The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland Part 16

_Overtures anent Family Exercises, Catechising, keeping of Synods and Presbyteries, and restraint of Adulteries, Witch-crafts, and other grosse sins._

_The Committee supplicates the a.s.sembly_,

I. To urge the severall Synods and Presbyteries, especially these of the North, that Family Exercise in Religion, visitation of the Churches, Catechising, keeping of the Presbyteriall and Provinciall meetings (both by Preaching and Ruling Elders) be more carefully observed.

II. That the Clerk at least subscribe every Book before it come to the a.s.sembly, and that every Act be noted on the Margent, for a directory of expedition.

III. That the a.s.sembly would seriously studie by all meanes and wayes how to procure the Magistrates concurrence to curb and punish these notorious vices which abound in the Land, especially in the Northern parts.

_The a.s.sembly approves the Overtures foresaids, and ordains them to be observed: and for the last, the a.s.sembly being confident of __ the readinesse of the Judge Ordinar to restrain and punish these faults, Do therefore ordain all Presbyteries to give up to the Justice, the names of the Adulterers, incestuous persons, Witches and sorcerers and others guilty of such grosse and fearfull sins within their bounds that they may be Processed and punished according to the Laws of this Kingdom; and that the Presbyteries and Synods be carefull herein, as they will answer to the Generall a.s.semblies, And because that Witch craft, Charming, and such like proceeds many times from ignorance, Therefore the a.s.sembly ordains all Ministers, especially in these parts where these sins are frequent, to be diligently Preaching, Cathichising, and conferring, to inform their people thereintill._

Sess. 11. Aug. 5. 1642.

_Act against Pet.i.tions, Declarations, & suchlike in name of Ministers, without their knowledge and consents._

The Generall a.s.sembly being informed, that after the Pet.i.tion presented to the Lords of His Majesties Privie Councell by the n.o.blemen Burgesses, and Ministers, occasionally met at _Edinburg_ the 31. day of _May_ last by-past, had received a very gracious Answer, There was another Pet.i.tion given in to their Lordships upon the 2 day of _June_ last, ent.i.tuled, The Pet.i.tion of the n.o.bilitie, Gentrie, Burrows, Ministers, and Commons: which as it was not accompanied with any one Minister to the Lords of Privie Councell, so all the Ministers of this a.s.sembly, disclaimes and disavoweth any knowledge thereof, or accession thereto, And the a.s.sembly conceiving that the Kings Majestie Himself, and all the Courts and Judicatories of this Kingdome may be deluded and abused, and the Kirk in Generall, and Ministers in particular injured and prejudged by the like practises hereafter, Do therefore prohibite and discharge all and every one to pretend or use the name of Ministers to any Pet.i.tion, Declaration, or suchlike at any time hereafter, without their knowledge consent and a.s.sistance: And if any shal doe the contrary, ordaines Presbyteries and Provinciall a.s.semblies to proceed against them with the highest censures of the Kirk.

Sess 11. Aug. 5. 1642.

_Act anent the a.s.semblies desires to the Lords of Counsell, and Conservators of Peace._

The a.s.sembly being most desirous to use all, and to omit no lawful meane or occasion to testifie their zeale by dealing with G.o.d and man, for furtherance of their desires of Unity in Religion and uniformity of Kirk-government, And considering the great necessity, that the Kirk and State contribute joyntly their best endeavours to this happy end: Therefore enjoynes the Moderator, and the commissioners from the a.s.sembly, to supplicate with all earnestnesse and respect, the Lords of his Majesties Honourable Privie Councel, and likewise the Commissioners appointed by His Majestie, and the Parliament, for conservation of the Peace, that they may be pleased to concur with the Kirk in the like desires to His Majesty and the Parliament of _England_, and in the like directions to the Commissioners of this Kingdome, at _London_ for the time, that by all possible means, Civill, and Ecclesiastick, this blessed Worke may be advanced, and a happy settling betwixt His Majestie and His Parliament, may be endeavoured, and the common Peace betwixt the Kingdomes continued and strengthened.

Sess. 11. Aug 5. 1642.

_The a.s.semblies humble desire to the Kings Majestie for the Signator of 500 l. Sterling and recommendation thereof to the Kings Commissioner._

The Generall a.s.sembly having received the Report of the proceedings of the Commissioners of the late a.s.sembly, and specially that His Majesty was graciously pleased, upon their humble Pet.i.tion, solemnly to promise and declare under his Royall hand, his pious resolution and dedication of 500.

l. sterling, out of the readiest of his Rents and revenues, to be imployed yearly on publike necessary and pious uses of the Kirk, at the sight of the Generall a.s.sembly, as his Majestie gracious answer of the 3. of _January_, 1642. registrate in their books at His Majesties own desire, for their further a.s.surance of his Majesties pious zeale, doth more fully proport. Likeas being informed that His Majestie was gratiously pleased to signe and send down to the Kirk the Signator of the said 500. l. yearly to have past the Exchequer, albeit the samine is not as yet delivered; And considering His Majesties pious directions to them by his Majesties Letter to plant and visit the utmost skirts and borders of the Kingdome, as most necessary for the glory of G.o.d, the good of the Kirk, and His Majesties honour, and service, which is only stopped by the want of charges for publike visitations, And withall to remonstrate to His Majestie by His Commissioner, their just and necessary desires for what may further serve to the good of Religion, whereunto His Majesties Commissioner promised his best endeavours and a.s.sistance. Therefore the a.s.sembly doth most earnestly recommend to His Majesties Commissioner to represent to His Majestie, with his best a.s.sistance, the humble and necessary desires of the whole a.s.sembly, that His Majestie will be graciously pleased to command that Signator, already signed by His Royall hand (or to signe another of the samine tenor, whereof they deliver the just double to his Maj Commissioner for that effect) to be sent to this Kingdom, and delivered to the Commissioners from this a.s.sembly, who are to sit at _Edinburgh_, or to the Procurator of the Kirk, whereby his Majestie shall more and more oblige this whole Kirk to pray for a blessing from Heaven upon His Royal Person and Government.

Sess. 11. Aug. 5. 1642.

_The a.s.semblies Letter to the Commissioners of this Kingdom at_ London.

_Right Honourable_,

We have received your Lordships Letter, with the Declaration of the Parliament of _England_, and have sent this n.o.ble bearer to His Majesty with our humble Supplication, and to your Lordships with our Answer earnestly desiring Unity of Religion, and Uniformity of Kirk-government, to be presented by your Lordships, and this n.o.ble bearer to the Honourable Houses of Parliament. Your Lordships will perceive by the inclosed Copies, and by our desires to His Majesties honourable Privie Councel and Commissioners for the conservation of the Peace, to joyn their best endeavours with his Majestie and the Parliament, and their directions to your Lordships, by our leaving a Commission behinde us, to concur with them in all Ecclesiastick wayes, and by our appointing publike Prayers, and a solemn Fast through this Kirk, for the furtherance of this great work of Reformation, and continuance of the common Peace, that this Unity in Religion and uniformity of Kirk-government is the chiefest of our desires, prayers and cares: Where unto as we have been encouraged by the faithful labors of the Commissioners of this Kingdom in the late Treaty, and continued and renewed by your Lordships; so we are a.s.sured, that your Lordships will omit no lawful mean, argument, or occasion of seconding the same there, And advertising our Commissioners at _Edinburgh_, wherein they may further concur with your Lordships, for the furtherance of the Work, which tends so much to the glory of G.o.d, advancement of Christs Kingdom, increase of the honour and happinesse of our Soveraign, and the peace and welfare of these Kingdoms, whereby your Lordships will oblige this Kirk more and more to pray for a blessing on your persons and travels, and to rest.

_Yours in the Lord_ _The Commissioners of the General a.s.sembly._

S. Andrews _5. Aug. 1642._

_A Letter from some Ministers of_ England.

_Reverend and wel-beloved in our Lord and Saviour._

We received with much joy and satisfaction the Answer which your General a.s.sembly vouchsafed us to our Letters of the last yeer. Some of us in the name of our Brethren, thought it then fit by Mr. _Alexander Henderson_ (a Brother so justly approved by you, and honoured by us) to return our deserved thanks. And we now further think it equall upon this occasion, to make a more publike acknowledgement of such a publike favour. You were then pleased to give us fair grounds, to expect that brotherly advice and endeavours, which the common cause of Christ, and the mutual interest of the united Nations, command us now again to ask, if not to chalenge. We doubt not but your experience, together with your intelligence, abundantly informes you of our condition, what various administrations of providence we have pa.s.sed through and we still lye betwixt hopes and feares, a fit temper for working; the G.o.d of all grace enable us to improve it. As our hopes are not such as may make us fear, so neither doe our Feares prevail, to the casting away our confidence. Your own late condition, together with this Declaration of ours present, may acquaint you with the certain, though subtil, authors & fomentors of these our confused conflicts: which we conceive to be the Hierarchical faction, who have no way to peace & safety, but through the trouble & danger of others. Our prayers and endeavours, according to our measure, have been and shall be for the supplanting and rooting up whatsoever we finde so prejudicial to the establishment of the Kingdome of Christ, and the peace of our Soveraigne.

And that this Declaration of ourselves may not leave you unsatisfied, we think it necessary further to expresse, That the desire of the most G.o.dly and considerable part amongst us, is, That the Presbyterian Government, which hath just and evident Foundation both in the Word of G.o.d, and religious reason, may be established amongst us, and that (according to your intimation) we may agree in one confession of Faith, one directorie of Worship, one publike Catechisme and form of Governement: Which things, if they were accomplished, we should much rejoyce in our happy subjection to Christ our Head, and our desired a.s.sociation with you our beloved brethren. For the better effecting whereof, we thought it necessary, not only to acquaint you with what our desires are in themselves, but likewise to you, that is, That what way shall seem most fit to the wisedom of that grave and religious a.s.sembly, may be taken for the furtherance of our indeavours in this kind. We understand that our Parliament hath been before hand with us in this intimation, and it cannot but be our duty, who are so much concerned in the businenesse, to adde what power the Lord hath given us with you to the same purpose. This designe and desire of ours hath enemies on the Left-hand; and dissenting brethren on the Right; but we doubt not, that as our hearts justifie us that our intentions are right, and such as we conceive tend most to the glory of G.o.d, and the peace of the Churches of the Saints; so (by your brotherly concurrence in the most speedy and effectuall way you can find out) the Work will in G.o.ds due time receive a prayed for, hoped for issue. We shall not need by many arguments from mutuall Nationall interest (though we know you will not overlook them) to inforce this request, the firme bond wherewith we are all united in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are a.s.sured will alone engage your faithfull endeavours in this businesse. To him we commit you, with these great and important affairs you have in hand. Be pleased to accept of these as the expression of the mindes of our many G.o.dly and faithfull Brethren, whose hearts we doubt not of, neither need you, though their hands in regard of the suddennesse of this opportunity could not be subscribed together with ours, who are.

_Your most affectionate Friends and Brethren in the work of the Lord._

London, _22. July, 1642._

_Answer to the Ministers Letter._

_Right Reverend and beloved in the Lord Jesus._

By our Answer to the Declaration sent unto us from the honourable Houses of Parliament, ye may perceive that your Letter which came into our hands so seasonably, was not only acceptable unto us, but hath also encouraged us to renew both to the Kings Majestie and the Houses of Parliament, The desires of the late Commissioners of this Kingdome for Unity in Religion, in the four particulars remembred by you, we cannot be ignorant but the opposition from Satan and worldly men in Kirk and Policy, will still be vehement as it hath been already, But we are confident through our Lord Jesus Christ, that the prayers and indeavours of the G.o.dly in both Kingdoms, will bring the work to a wished, and blessed Issue. This whole national Kirk is so much concerned in that Reformation and Unity of Religion in both Kingdomes, that without it we cannot hope for any long time to enjoy our puritie and peace, which hath cost us so dear, and is now our chiefest comfort and greatest treasure: Which one cause (beside the Honour of G.o.d, and the happinesse of the People of G.o.d in that Kingdome, more desired of us then Our lives) is more then sufficient to move us, To contribute all that is in our power for bringing it to pa.s.se.

And since we have with so great liberty made our desires and hopes known both to King and Parliament, it is a duety incombent both to you and us, who make mention of the Lord, and are Watch-men upon the Walls of _Jerusalem_, never more to keep silence nor to hold our peace day nor night, till the Righteousnesse of Sion go forth as brightnesse, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And if it shall please the Lord to move the hearts of King and Parliament, to hearken unto the motion, for which end we have resolved to keep a solemne Fast and Humiliation in all the Kirks of this Kingdome, the mean by which we have prevailed in times past, we wish that the Work may be begun with speed, and prosecuted with diligence by the joint labours of some Divines in both Kingdoms, who may prepare the same for the view and examination of a more frequent Ecclesiastick meeting of the best affected to Reformation there, and of the Commissioners of the General a.s.sembly here, that in end it may have the approbation of the Generall a.s.sembly here, and of all the Kirks there, in the best way that may be, we wish & hope at last in a nationall a.s.sembly; Our Commissioners at _Edinburgh_, shall in our name receive and returne answers for promoving so great a Work, which we with our heart and our soule recommend to the blessing of G.o.d, we continue,

_Your loving brethren and fellow-labourers._

_Act for the Lord_ Maitlands _presenting the a.s.semblies Supplication to His Majestie, and for going to the Commissioners at_ London, _with the Answer to the Parliament of_ Englands _Declaration_.