The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland Part 26

_Act concerning the Election of a Moderator in Provinciall a.s.semblies._

The General a.s.sembly understanding that some Provincial a.s.semblies in choosing their Moderator, tye themselves to these Persons who have been before named and designed in particular Presbyteries, which is against the libertie of the Provincial a.s.sembly: Therefore discharges Presbyteries to make any such nomination hereafter; And ordain Provincials in their first meeting, to elect their Moderator, and to make their own List for that effect without any such praelimitation.

_Act for keeping of the Fast by the Congregations in the Towne where the a.s.sembly holds._

The a.s.sembly judge it most necessar and comely, seeing the first day of the meeting of Generall a.s.semblies, is by the laudable practice of this Kirk a day of Fasting and Humiliation, for craving the Lords blessing to that Meeting; That not onely the Members of the a.s.sembly, but that all the Congregations also of the Town where the a.s.sembly holds bee so exercised: And that publick Worship bee in all the Kirks thereof that day for that effect.

Meeting announcement.

_The Generall a.s.sembly appoints the meeting of the next a.s.sembly, to be upon the last Thursday of May, in the Yeer 1645. at_ Edinburgh.

Letter.

_Right Honourable, Reverend, and beloved in the Lord,_

As we are not without the knowledge, so are we not without the feeling of the distresses of our Native Countrey, and of the troubles of our dear Brethren, specially that the hand of the Lord is stretched out against you, not only by Invasion from without of the basest of the children of men, but also by the unnatural treachery of some within; who have dealt perfidiously in the Covenant and Cause of G.o.d: _They hisse and gnash the teeth; they say, Wee have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that wee looked for: Wee have found, wee have seen it; the Lord hath caused thine Enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine Adversaries:_ Yet (saith the Lord, who is thy Maker and thy Husband, _the Lord of hosts is his name, and thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel) for a __ small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hide my face from thee, for a moment; but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy on thee: For this is as the waters of Noah, the Covenant of my peace shall not be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee._ When the foundation of the House of the Lord was laid, the Priests and Levites sung together in praising and giving thanks to the Lord; _Because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever,_ And we hope at this time upon the coming of our reverend Brethren, and the sight of that which they bring with them, the noise of the shout of joy; shall be louder then the noise of the weeping of the People. This we may say, that not many years ago many of us would have been content to have losed our lives, that we might have obtained that which the Lord, if not in a miraculous, yet in a marvellous and merciful providence, hath brought to pa.s.se in this Iland, in these dayes, which many before us, have desired to see, & have not seen. G.o.d forbid that it should seeme a small thing in your eyes which is done here already, as it is expressed in a Paper from the Parliament, and Letters from the a.s.sembly. Ye are best acquainted with the tentations and difficulties which ye meet with there, which are also very sensible unto us; And when we consider how the Lord hath carried on his work here at the first taking of the Covenant, and since, against much learning and contradiction, against much Policie, power, and all sorts of opposition (such as Reformation useth to encounter) we are ravished with admiration of the right hand of the Almighty. For our part, we may confidently avouch in the sight of G.o.d and before you, whom next unto G.o.d we do respect and reverence, and to whom as your servants we are accomptable, that in all our proceedings we had first of all the word of G.o.d before our eyes for the Rule; and for our Patern the Church of _Scotland_, so much as was possible; and no lesse (if not more) then if all this time since we parted from you, we had been sitting in a National a.s.sembly there, and debating matters with our Brethren at home: Where we were not able to get every thing framed to our minde, we have endeavoured as much as we could, to preserve our own Reformation and practice, of which our Brethren will give you accompt in the particulars, we hope, to your satisfaction. That an Uniformitie in every thing is not obtained in the beginning, let it not seem strange; The levelling of the high Mountain of Prelacie, The laying aside of the Book of Common Prayer, The Directory of Worship concluded in both Houses of Parliament, and the princ.i.p.all Propositions of Church-government pa.s.sed in the a.s.sembly, all of them according to the solemne League and Covenant, the greatest of all, are three or foure witnesses to prove, that the Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad, and which make us _like them that dream_: And we are sure, that not onely the Reformed Kirks, but the Papists will say, The Lord hath done great things for them.

All that we desire, is: 1. That the Directory of Worship may be returned by our Brethren with all possible expedition, that it may be published here, and put in practise, as that which is extreamely longed for by the good People, and will be a remedy of the many differences and divisions about the Worship of G.o.d in this Kingdome, esspecially in this place: If there be any thing in it that displeaseth, let it be remonstrate upon irrefragable and convincing reason, otherwise ye will in your wisedome give approbation to it. 2. If there be any particular differences among some Brethren; which are not determined, but pa.s.sed over in silence in the Directory, and yet hinted at in the Letter from the a.s.sembly, we hope that in your wisedome ye will so consider of them, that they may be layde aside in due time, and that in the mean while, till the Directory be concluded and put in practice, there be no trouble about them, for that were as Snow in Summer, and as Rain in Harvest. We know nothing of that kinde, that all of us who love Unitie, Order, and Edification, may not perfectly agree in, without scandall or disturbance: And we beseech the Lord to keep that Kirk free of such Sects and Monsters of opinions, as are daily set on foot and multiplied in this Kingdome, through the want of that Church-government by a.s.semblies, which hath preserved us, and we hope, through the blessing of G.o.d, shall cure them. 3. Because Nationall a.s.semblies cannot frequently conveene, we humbly desire, that such a Commission may be settled as we may at all occasions till the Work be finished, have our recourse unto, for our direction and resolution: for we know both our own weaknesse: and the greatnesse of the Work: wherein we can promise no more but to be faithfull in obeying your commandments, as in the sight of G.o.d, whom with our Souls we pray, to grant you his Spirit, to guide you into all truth, And thus continue.

_Worcester house, Jan. 6. 1646._

_Your humble and faithfull Servants._

_Subscrib._ Alex. Henderson.

Jo. Maitland.

Sam. Rutherfurd.

DIRECT.

_For the Right Reverend the Generall a.s.sembly of the Kirk of_ Scotland.

_The Letter from the Synode of Divines in_ England, _to the Generall a.s.sembly._

_Right honourable, right reverend, and dearly beloved in the LORD JESUS,_

_As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far Countrey._ We your Brethren, yet remaining in the Furnace of affliction, and still labouring in the very fire, Have at length, by the good Hand of G.o.d upon us, attained so far toward the Mark at which we all aime, that we shall now send you, by two of your Reverend and Faithful Commissioners Mr _Robert Bailie_, and Mr _George Gillespie_ (our much honoured Brethren) some good news of that great Work, after which your zeal for Truth and Peace hath so much thirsted, and for which you _have not loved your lives unto the death._

Our progresse therein hath not been so expeditious as was desired and expected. This, unto such as either know not, or consider not, The weight and greatnesse of the Work, nor The manifold difficulties which have occurred to obstruct our proceedings in this day of darknesse and calamity (too sad to be expressed) hath been like unto _hope deferred_; _which makes the_ heart sick: Howbeit, we trust, _That when their desire_ (namely that which we have prepared, and are further in travell with) _shall come_ unto them, _It will be_, through G.o.d, _a Tree of life_, as to our great comfort and encouragement, we already perceive it to be to both the honourable Houses of Parliament.

Touching this severall Papers brought to us from your Honourable and Reverend Commissioners, by the hands of the Committee appointed to treat with them in matters of Religion (one of the Papers, being given in the 10. of November 1643. Concerneth the severall sorts of Church-officers and a.s.semblies: Another, bearing date the 24. of January 1643. Concerneth Congregationall Elderships, and Cla.s.sicall Presbyteries: The other, being presented the 15. of August last, representeth the necessity of making greater speed in settling the intended Uniformity in Religion, according to the late solemne Covenant:) We hold it our duty, in regard both of the act and inseparable Union, which the Lord hath happily and seasonably made between you and us, and of your indefatigable and inestimable labour of love to this afflicted Kingdom, to give your Lordships and the rest of that Venerable a.s.sembly, some brief account.

Concerning one Confession of Faith, and Forme of Catechisme, we make no question of a blessed and perfect harmony with you. The publick Doctrine, held out by our Church to all the World (especially when it shall be reviewed, which is in great part done) concurring so much with yours, may a.s.sure you of your hearts desire in those particulars, so soon as time and opportunity may give us liberty to perfect what we have begun.

The chief reason of laying aside the review of our publick Doctrine, after the happy and much desired arrivall of your Reverend Commissioners here, was, The drawing up and accelerating of a Directory for Worship, and of a Forme of Church-Government; in both of which we stood at a greater distance from other Reformed Churches of Christ, and particularly from yours (which we very much honour) with whom our solemne sacred Nationall Covenant requireth us to endeavour the nearest Conjunction and Uniformity, that we and our posterity after us, may as Brethren live in Faith and Love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us.

Nor have our labours there in been frustrate: For we have perfected and transmitted a Directory for Worship, to both Houses of Parliament; where it hath received such acceptance, that it is now pa.s.sed in both the Honourable Houses of Parliament; which we hope will be to the joy and comfort of all our G.o.dly and dear Brethren in all His Majesties Kingdoms and Dominions.

We have not advised any imposition which might make it unlawfull to vary from it in any thing; Yet we hope, all our Reverend Brethren in this Kingdom, and in yours also, will so far value and reverence that which upon so long debate and serious deliberation hath been agreed upon in this a.s.sembly (when it shall also pa.s.se with you, and be settled as the common publick Directory for all the Churches in the three Kingdomes) that it shall not be the lesse regarded and observed. And albeit we have not expressed in the Directory every minute particular, which is or might be either laid aside or retained among us, as comely and usefull in practice; yet we trust-that none will be so tenacious of old customs not expressely forbidden, or so averse from good examples although new, in matters of lesser consequence, as to insist upon their liberty of retaining the one, or refusing the other, because not specified in the Directory; but be studious to please others rather then themselves.

We have likewise spent divers moneths in the search of the Scriptures, to finde out the minde of Christ concerning a Forme of Church-government, wherein we could not but expect the greatest difficulty: For our better Progresse herein, wee have with all respect considered the severall Papers of your Honourable and Reverend Commissioners, touching this Head; and do with all thankfulnesse, acknowledge their great zeal, judgement, and wisdom expressed therein (as also, the excellent a.s.sistance and great furtherance of your Reverend Commissioners in this great Work; which now, through G.o.dS goodnesse, is very near to a period also).

In pursuit whereof, we made a strict survey and scrutinie of every Proposition, that we might finde it agreeable to, and warranted by the Word of G.o.d, in a method of our own; without resting upon any particular modell or frame whatsoever already const.i.tuted: What we have performed, and how farre we have proceeded therein, we leave to the information of your Reverend Commissioners, who have been eye and ear witnesses of all that hath past, and we doubt not but you will shortly receive a satisfactory answer from hence, so soon as it shall be pa.s.sed in the Honourable Houses of Parliament.

And now, Right Honourable, and right Reverend Brethren, let it not seem grievous that we have this long delayed the satisfying of your earnest and just expectation: It is the Lot of Jerusalem, to have her Wals built in troublous times, when there are many adversaries. Nor let it offend, that (albeit we acknowledge the many, great, and inestimable expressions of your love zeal, and helpfulnesse unto us every way in the day of our distresse, to be beyond all that we can in words acknowledge) we professe plainly to you, That we do most unwillingly part with those our Reverend and dear Fellow-labourers, your Commissioners, whom now you have called home, to render an account of their imployment here; which hath been so managed both by them and the rest of their Honourable and Reverend Colleagues, as deserveth many thanks, and all Honourable acknowledgement, not onely from us, but from you also.

Give us leave to adde, that the long experience we have had of the great sufficiency, integrity, and usefulnesse of them all, in the great Work of Christ our common Lord and Master, inforceth us (next to our greatest sute, continuance of your fervent prayers) to be earnest suiters, not onely for the continuance of these excellent helpers, Mr. _Alex Henderson_, and Mr. _Sam. Rutherfurd_, yet remaining with us, but also for the speedy return hither of our Reverend Brethren that are now going hence, for the perfecting of that Work which yet remains. And this sute we trust, you will the rather grant, because of the great and joint concernment of both Churches and Kingdoms in these matters.

Now the spirit of wisdom and of all grace rest upon you in all your great consultations, as at all times, so especially now when you shall be gathered together in the Name of the Lord Jesus, for the further building up and polishing of his Church; and cause the fruit of all your labour to be to the praise and glory of G.o.d, and the comfort and rejoycing of the hearts of all _the Israel of G.o.d_: He reward all our dear Brethren of that Sister Church and Nation manifold into their bosome, all the labours, love, and sufferings which they have afforded, and still do, cheerfully continue, for our sakes and the Gospels, in this distracted and bleeding Kingdom; suppresse all commotions and b.l.o.o.d.y practices of the common Enemy, in both, yea in all the three Kingdoms; set up the Throne of Jesus Christ, and make all the Kingdoms to be the Lords, and our Jerusalem to be a praise upon Earth, that all that love her and mourn for her, may rejoyce for joy with her, and may suck and be satisfied with the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of her consolation.

_Westminster, Jan 6. 1644._

Subscribed by _Your most loving Brethren, and fellow labourers in the Work of the Lord, in the name of this whole a.s.sembly,_

William Twisse, _Prolocutor_.

Cornelius Burges, _a.s.sessor_.

John White, _a.s.sessor_.

Henry Robrough, _Scriba_.

Adoniram Byfield, _Scriba_.

DIRECT.

_To the Right Honourable, and right Reverend, the Generall a.s.sembly of the Church of_ Scotland, _these presents_

_28 Jan. 1645. Post meridiem. Die Martis._ Sess. 5.

_Approbation of the Proceedings of the Commission of the two preceding a.s.semblies._

The Generall a.s.sembly, having heard the report of the Committee appointed to consider and examine the Proceedings of the Commissioners of the two last Generall a.s.semblies, _viz._ Of the a.s.semblies held in Edinburgh in the yeers 1643 and 1644. And after mature deliberation, and serious consideration thereof, Finding that the whole Acts, Proceedings, and Conclusions of the saids Commissioners contained in a Book and Register, subscribed by Mister _Andrew Ker_ their Clerk, and by Master _George Leslie_ Moderator, and Master _William Jaffray_, Clerk to the said Committee; Declare much wisedome, diligence, vigilancie, and commendable zeal; And that the saids Commissioners have orderly and formally proceeded in every thing according to their Commissions; Do therefore Ratifie and Approve the said whole Acts, Proceedings, and Conclusions of the Commissioners of the two a.s.semblies aforesaid.