The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland Part 10

That all Ministers or Intrants presented to Kirks, be tryed before their admission, if they be qualified for the places to which they are presented, besides the ordinary tryalls of Expectants before their entrie to the Ministerie.

_The a.s.sembly alloweth this article._

Sess. 23. August 30. 1639.

_The Supplication of the General a.s.sembly to the Kings Majesties Commissioner, concerning the Book, called_, The large Declaration.

We the Members of this present a.s.sembly, for our selves, and in name of the severall Presbyteries, Burghs, and Universities, for which we are Commissioners resenting the great dishonour done to G.o.d, our King, this Kirk, and whole Kingdome, by the Book called, _A large Declaration_, have here represented the same to your Grace, and have collected some amongst many of false grosse and absurd pa.s.sages; That from the consideration thereof, your Grace, perceiving the intolerable evills foresaids contained therein, may be pleased to represent the same to our gracious Soveraigne, and in our behalfs humbly to beseech his Majestie, so much wronged by the many foul and false relations, suggested and perswaded to him as trueths, and by stealing the protection of His Royal Name and Authoritie to the patrocinie of such a Book: To be pleased first to call in the said Book: and thereby to shew his dislike thereof: Next to give Commission and warrant, To cite all such parties as are either knowne or suspect to have hand in it, and to appoint such as His Majestie knowes to be either authors, informers, or any wayes accessarie, being Natives of this Kingdome, To be sent hither to abide their tryall and censure before the Judge Ordinary, and in speciall Master _Walter Balcanquell_, now Deane of _Durham_, who is known and hath professed to be the author, at least a vower and maintainer of a great part thereof; that by their examplar punishment, others may be deterred from such dangerous courses, as in such a way to raise sedition betwixt the King and His Subjects, G.o.ds honour may be vindicate from so high contempt, His Majesties justice may appear, not only in cutting away such Malefactors, but in discouraging all such under-miners of His throne, His loyall and loving Subjects shall be infinitly contented to be cleared before the world of so false and unjust imputations, and will live hereafter in the greater securitie, when so dangerous a course of sedition is prevented, and so will have the greater and greater cause to pray for His Majesties long & prosperous Reigne.

_His Majesties Commissioner in Councell having received the said supplication, promised to impart the same to His Majesty, and to report his diligence therein._

_The Supplication of the a.s.sembly to His Majesties High Commissioner, and the Lords of secret Councell._

Wee the Generall a.s.sembly, considering with all humble and thankful acknowledgement, the many recent favours bestowed upon us by His Majestie, and that there resteth nothing for crowning of His Majesties incomparable goodnesse towards us, but that all the members of this Kirk and Kingdom be joyned in one and the same Confession and Covenant with G.o.d, with the Kings Majestie, and amongst ourselves: And conceiving the main lett and impediment to this so good a work, and so much wished by all, to have been the Informations made to his Majestie, of our intentions to shake off Civil and dutiful obedience due to Soveraignity, and to diminish the Kings greatnesse and authoritie, and being most willing and desirous to remove this and all such impediments which may hinder and impede so full and perfect an Union, and for clearing of our loyaltie, WEE in our own names, and in name of all the rest of the Subjects and Congregations whom we represent, do now in all humility represent to your Grace, His Majesties Commissioner, and the Lords of His Majesties most honourable privie Councel, and declares before G.o.d and the World, that we never had nor have any thought of with-drawing our selves from that humble and dutiful obedience to His Majestie, and to his Government, which by the descent & under the reign of 107 Kings is most chearfully acknowledged by us and our predecessors: And that we never had, nor have any intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may tend to dishonour of G.o.d, or the diminution of the Kings greatnesse and authoritie: But on the contrary, acknowledging our quietnesse, stabilitie and happinesse to depend upon the safety of the Kings Maj. Person, & maintenance of His greatnesse and Royal authority who is G.o.ds Vice-gerent set over us, for the maintenance of Religion and ministration of Justice, We have solemnly sworn and do sweare, not only our mutual concurrence and a.s.sistance for the cause of Religion, and to the uttermost of our power, with our means and lives, to stand to the defence of our dread Soveraigne, his Person and authority, in preservation and defence of the true Religion, Liberties and Lawes of this Kirk and Kingdome, but also in every cause which may concerne His Majesties honour, shall according to the Lawes of this Kingdome, and the duties of good Subjects concurre with our friends and followers in quiet manner, or in armes, as we shall be required of His Majestie, His Councel, or any having his Authority. And therefore being most desirous to cleare our selves of all imputation of this kinde, and following the laudable example of our predecessors, 1589. do most humble supplicate your Grace, His Majesties Commissioner, and the Lords of His Majesties most honourable privie Councell, to enjoyn by Act of a Councel, that this Confession and Covenant, which, as a testimony of our fidelity to G.o.d, and loyaltie to our King, we have subscribed, be subscribed by all His Majesties Subjects, of what rank and quality soever.

_The Act of the Lords of Councel at_ Edinburgh, August 30. 1639.

_containing the_ Answer _of the preceding_ Supplication.

The which day in presence of the Lord Commissioner and the Lords of privie Councel, compeired personally _John_ Earle of _Rothes_, _James_ Earle of _Montrose_, _John_ Lord _Lowdoun_, Sir _George Stirling_ of Keir Knight, Sir _William Douglas_ of Cavers Knight, Sir _Henry Wood_ of Bonytoun Knight, _John Smyth_ Burgesse of _Edinburgh_, Mr. _Robert Barclay_ Provest of Irwing, Mr. _Alexander Henderson_ Minister at Edinburgh, and Mr.

_Archbald Johnstoun_ Clerk to the General a.s.sembly, and in the name of the present sitting General a.s.sembly, gave in to the Lord Commissioner, and Lords of privie Councel, the Pet.i.tion above written; which being read, heard, and considered by the saids Lords, they have ordained, and ordain the same to be insert and registrate in the books of Privie Councel, and according to the desire thereof, ordaines the said Confession and Covenant to be subscribed in time coming by all His Majesties Subjects of this Kingdome, of what ranke and quality soever.

_The Kings Majesties Commissioners Declarations._

The which day His Majesties Commissioner, and Lords of Councel, after the receiving of the Supplication of the General a.s.sembly, anent the subscribing of the Covenant, having returned to the a.s.sembly, His Majesties Commissioner in name of the Councel, declared; That he had received the Supplication of the a.s.sembly, desiring that the Covenant might receive the force of an Act of Councel, to be subscribed by all His Majesties Subjects, that they had found the desire so fair and reasonable, that they conceived themselves bound in duety to grant the same; and thereupon have made an Act of Councel to that effect: And that there rested now the Act of a.s.sembly. And that he himself was so fully satisfied, that he came now as his Majesties Commissioner to consent fully unto it: And that he was most willing that it should be enacted here in this a.s.sembly, to oblige all his Majesties Subjects to subscribe the said Covenant, with the a.s.semblies explanation. And because there was a third thing desired, His subscription as the Kings Commissioner, unto the Covenant, which he behoved to do, with a Declaration in writ, and he declared as a Subject, he should subscribe the Covenant as strictly as any, with the a.s.semblies Declaration; but as His Majesties Commissioner in his name behoved to prefix to his subscription, the Declaration following, which no _Scots_ Subjects should subscribe, or have the benefit of, no not himself as Earle of _Traquair_. The tenor whereof follows:

Seeing this a.s.sembly, according to the laudable form and custome heretofore kept in the like cases, have in an humble and dutiful way, supplicate to us His Majesties Commissioner, and the Lords of His most honourable Privie Councel, That the Covenant, with the explanation of this a.s.sembly, might be subscribed: And to that effect that all the Subjects of this Kingdome by Act of Councel be required to doe the same: And that therein for vindicating themselves from all suspitions of disloyaltie, or derogating from the greatnesse and authoritie of our dread Soveraigne, have therewith added a Clause, whereby this Covenant is declared one in substance with that which was subscribed by His Majesties Father of blessed memory 1580, 1581, 1590. and oftner since renewed. Therefore I as His Majesties Commissioner, for the full satisfaction of the Subjects, and for settling a perfect Peace in Church and Kingdome, doe according to my foresaids Declaration and Subscription, subjoyned to the Act of this a.s.sembly of the date the 17 this instant, allow and consent that the Covenant be subscribed throughout all this Kingdome. In witnes whereof I have subscribed the premisses.

_Like as his Majesties Commissioner, read and gave in the Declaration following, of his consent to the Act of the a.s.sembly_ 17. August, _anent the causes of our by gone evils._

I _John_ Earle of _Traquair_, His Majesties Commissioner this present a.s.sembly, doe in His Majesties Name declare, that nothwithstanding of His Majesties own inclination, and many other grave and weightie consideration yet such is His Majesties incomparable goodnesse, that for settling the present distractions, and giving full satisfaction to the Subject, He doth allow, like as I His Majesties Commissioner do consent to the foresaid Act, and have subscribed the premisses.

_Like as His Majesties Commissioner, read and gave in the Declaration following:_

It is alwayes hereby declared by me His Majesties Commissioner, That the practise of the premisses, prohibited within this Kirk and Kingdome, outwith the Kingdome of _Scotland_ shall never bind nor inferre censure against the practises outwith the Kingdome; which when the Commissioner required to be insert in the Register of the Kirk, and the Moderator in name of the a.s.sembly, refused to give warrant for such practise, as not agreeable with a good conscience His Grace urged, that it should be recorded, at least that he made such a Declaration, whatsoever was the a.s.semblies Judgement in the contrair: And so it is to be understood to be insert here onely _recitative_.

_Act ordaining the subscription of the Confession of Faith and Covenant, with the a.s.semblies Declaration._

The Generall a.s.sembly considering the great happiness which may flow from a full and perfect Union of this Kirk and Kingdome, by joyning of all in one and the same Covenant with G.o.d, with the Kings Majestie, and amongst our selves, having by our great Oath declared the uprightnesse and loyaltie of our intentions in all our proceedings, and having withall supplicated His Majesties high Commissioner, and the Lords of His Majesties honorable Privie Councell, to injoyn by Act of Councell, all the Lieges in time coming to subscribe the Confession of faith and Covenant, which as a testimony of our fidelity to G.o.d and loyaltie to our King we have subscribed; And seeing His Majesties high Commissioner, and the Lords of His Majesties honorable Privie Councell, have granted the desire of our Supplication, ordaining by Civill authority, all His Majesties Lieges in time comming, to subscribe the foresaid Covenant, that our Union may be the more full and perfect, We by our Act and Const.i.tution Ecclesiasticall, do approove the foresaid Covenant, in all the Heads and Clauses thereof and ordains of new, under all Ecclesiasticall censure, that all the Masters of Universities, Colledges, and Schooles, all Schollers at the pa.s.sing of their degrees, all persons suspect of Papistry, or any other errour; and finally all the members of this Kirk & Kingdome, subscribe the same with these words prefixed to their subscription: _The Article of this Covenant, which was at the first subscription referred to the determination of the General a.s.sembly, being determined. And thereby the five Articles of_ Perth, _the government of the Kirk by Bishops, the civill places and power of Kirkmen, upon the reasons and grounds contained in the Acts of the Generall a.s.sembly declared to be unlawfull within this Kirk: we subscribe according to the determination foresaid._ And ordains the Covenant, with this Declaration, to be insert in the Registers of the a.s.semblies of this Kirk, Generall, Provinciall, and Presbyteriall, _ad perpetuam rei memoriam_; and in all humility supplicates His Majesties high Commissioner, and the honourable Estates of Parliament, by their authority, to ratifie and injoyne the same, under all civill paines, which will tend to the glory of G.o.d, preservation of Religion, the Kings Majesties honour, and perfect peace of this Kirk and Kingdome.

_Act anent Appellations._

The a.s.sembly appointed that in all time hereafter, no Appellations should be leaping over either Presbyterie or Synod, but to ascend by degrees as from the Kirk Session to the Presbytry, or from the Presbyterie to the Synod, and from the Synod to the Generall a.s.sembly, except it be after the Synod be past, and immediatly before the Generall a.s.sembly, or in the time thereof, and renews all former Acts made to this effect.

_Act anent advising with Synods and Presbyteries before determination in Novations._

The Generall a.s.sembly desiring that the intended Reformation being recovered, may be established, Ordains, that no Novation which may disturbe the peace of the Church, and make division, be suddenly proponed and enacted: But so as the motion be first communicate to the severall Synods, Presbyteries and Kirks, that the matter may be approved by all at home, and Commissioners may come well prepared, unanimously to conclude a solide deliberation upon these points in the Generall a.s.sembly.

_Act anent Ministers Catechising, and Family Exercises._

The a.s.sembly considering that the long waited-for fruits of the Gospel, so mercifully planted and preserved in this Land, and Reformation of ourselves, and Families, so solemnly vowed to G.o.d of late in our Covenant, cannot take effect, except the knowledge and worship of G.o.d be caried from the Pulpit to every family within each Parish, hath therefore appointed that every Minister, besides his paines on the Lords day, shall have weekly catechising of some part of the Paroch, and not altogether cast over the examination of the people, till a litle before the Communion.

Also that in every Familie the worship of G.o.d be erected, where it is not both Morning and Evening, and that the Children & Servants be catechised at home, by the Masters of the Families, whereof account shall be taken by the Minister, and Elders a.s.sisting him in the visitation of every Family: And lest they fail, that visitation of the severall Kirks be seriously followed by every Presbyterie, for this end among others. The execution and successe whereof, being tried by the Synods, let it be represented to the next Generall a.s.sembly.

Sess. 24. Aug. 30. _a meride._

_The a.s.semblies Supplication to the_ KINGS MAJESTIE.