The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland Part 48

This day the Overtures following anent the _Irish Bibles, New Testaments_ and _Catechisms_, were read in presence of the a.s.sembly.

1. That a Letter of Thanks be written to these concerned, whether in this, or our Neighbour Nation, for their Care of, and Liberal Charity towards the _Highlanders_ of this Kingdom, in their so Liberally Contributing, for the saids _Irish Bibles_, &c. And that Mr. _David Blair_ be appointed to write the said Letter in the Name of this a.s.sembly.

2. The whole Money so Charitably contributed, being expended, Therefore, and for making up of the same, and for Defraying of the necessary Charges of Transporting the saids Bibles, &c. to _Scotland_; It is thought most needful, that there be an advance of One thousand Pounds _Scots_, and that Their Majesties Privy Council be supplicat, for as much of some Vacant Stipends of Parishes, where the King is Patron, as will make up the said sum for the ends foresaid.

3. That it be Recommended to the Kirk Sessions, Heretors and others concerned in the _Highlands_, to see the Act of Parliament anent Erecting of Schools in every Parish, duely Execute, and the _Fonds_ established by Law, for the same, made effectual.

4. That it be Recommended to the Agent for the Kirk, to Receive the foresaid sum, and to Deburse the same at the sight of Mr. _John Law_ and Mr. _David Blair_, for the said use: And also to receive the Books above-mentioned, being three Thousand _Bibles_, one Thousand _New Testaments_, and three Thousand _Catechisms_, from _London_.

5. That the several Synods, who have _Highland Parishes_ in their bounds, appoint one of their Number, to receive their proportion, of the saids _Bibles_, _New Testaments_, and _Catechisms_: And that in order thereto, the Ministers and Elders having Interest in the _Highlands_, present in this a.s.sembly, shall meet and appoint some to receive these _Bibles_, &c.

And proportion the number that each Parish shall have thereof.

6. That it be Recommended to the Ministers, concerned in the _Highlands_, to dispatch the whole Paraphrase of the _Irish Psalms_, to the Press. And if the Princ.i.p.al Copy can be Recovered, to expede the same; But that any other Copy they have, be Revised by the Synod of _Argyle_, and being approven by them; That the same be Printed.

The a.s.sembly having considered these Overtures, they approve thereof, and Recommend and Appoint accordingly.

_At_ Edinburgh, November 12. 1690. _Post Meridiem._ Sess. 25.

XII. _Act anent a Solemn National Fast and Humiliation, with the Causes thereof._

The General a.s.sembly, Having taken into their most serious Consideration, the late great and general Defection of this Church and Kingdom; Have though fit to Appoint a Day of Solemn Humiliation and Fasting, for Confession of Sins, and making Supplication to Our Gracious G.o.d, to Forgive and Remove the guilt thereof; In order whereunto, they have Ordained the Confession of Sins, and Causes of Fasting following, to be duely Intimate and Published; Recommending it most earnestly to all persons, both Ministers and Others, That every One of us may not only search and try our own Hearts and Wayes, and stir up Ourselves to seek the Lord; But also in our Stations, and as we have access, Deal with one another, in all Love and Tenderness, to prepare for so great and necessary a Duty, that we may find mercy in G.o.d's sight, and He may be graciously Reconciled to our Land in the Lord Jesus, and take delight to dwell among us.

Although our gracious G.o.d hath of late, for His own Name sake wrought great and wonderful things, for _Britain_ and _Ireland_, and for this Church and Nation in particular; Yet the Inhabitants thereof have cause to remember their own evil wayes, and to loath themselves in their own sight for their Iniquities. Alas! Alas! We and our Fathers, our Princes, our Pastors, and People of all Ranks have sinned, and have been under great Transgression to this day: For though our gracious G.o.d shewed early kindness to this Land, in sending the Gospel among us, and afterward in our Reformation from Popish Superst.i.tion and Idolatry; and It had the Honour, beyond many Nations of being after our first Reformation, Solemnly devoted unto G.o.d, both Prince and People; yet we have dealt treacherously with the Lord, and been unstedfast in His Covenant, and have not walked suitably to our Mercies received from Him, nor obligations to Him. Through the mercy of G.o.d this Church had attained to a great purity of Doctrine, Worship and Government, but this was not accompanied with suitable personal Reformation, neither was our Fruit answerable to the pains taken on us by Word and Work; We had much Gospel-preaching, but too little Gospel-practice, too many went on in open wickedness, and some had but a form of G.o.dliness, denying the power thereof: Many also who had the Grace of G.o.d in truth fell from their first love, and fell under sad languishings and decays; and when for our sins the Anger of the Lord had divided us, and we were brought under the feet of strangers, and many of our brethren killed, and others taken captive and sold as slaves; yet we sinned still, and after we were freed from the yoak of strangers, instead of returning to the Lord, and being led to Repentance by His Goodness, the Land made open Defection from the good ways of the Lord: Many behaved as if they had been delivered to work abomination, the flood-gates of Impiety were opened, and a deluge of wickednese did overspread the Land. Who can without grief and shame remember the shameful debauchery and drunkenness that then was? And this accompanied with horrid and h.e.l.lish cursing and swearing, and followed with frequent Filthiness, Adulteries and other Abominations, and the Reprover was hated, and he that departed from Iniquity made himself a Reproach of Prey. And when by these, and such like corrupt practices, mens Consciences were debauched, they proceeded to sacrifice the Interest of the Lord Jesus Christ, and priviledges of his Church to the l.u.s.ts and will of Men; The Supremacy was advanced in such a way, and to such an height, as never any Christian Church acknowledged; The Government of the Church was altered, and Prelacie (which hath been always grievous to this Nation) introduced, without the Churches consent, and contrary to the standing Acts of our National a.s.semblies, both which the present Parliament hath (blessed be G.o.d) lately found; And yet nevertheless, of the then standing Ministry of _Scotland_, many did suddenly and readily comply with that alteration of the Government, some out of Pride and Covetousness, or Man-pleasing, some through infirmity or weakness, or fear of Man, and want of Courage and Zeal for G.o.d; many faithful Ministers were thereupon cast out, and many Insufficient and Scandalous Men thrust in on their Charges, and many Families ruined, because they would not own them as their Pastors.

And alas! It is undenyable, there hath been under the late Prelacie, a great decay of Piety, so that it was enough to make a man be nicknam'd a Phanatick, if he did not run to the same excess of Riot with others.

And should it not be lamented, for it cannot be denied, that there hath been in some a dreadful Atheistical Boldness against G.o.d, some have disputed the Beeing of G.o.d, and His Providence, the Divine Authority of the Scriptures, the Life to come, and Immortality of the Soul, yes and scoffed at these things.

There hath been also an Horrid Prophanation of the Holy and Dreadful Name of G.o.d, by cursing and swearing: Ah! there hath been so much Swearing and Forswearing amongst us, that no Nation under Heaven hath been more guilty in this than we; some by swearing rashly or ignorantly, some falsly, by breaking their Oaths. And imposing and taking unG.o.dly unlawful Oaths and Bonds, whereby the Consciences of many have been polluted and seared, and many ruined and oppressed for refusing and not taking them.

There hath also been a great neglect of the worship of G.o.d, too much in publick, but especially in Families and in secret.

The wonted care of Religious sanctifying the Lord's Day is gone, and in many places the Sabbath hath been and is shamefully prophaned.

The Land also hath been, full of b.l.o.o.d.y Crimes, and Cities full of Violence, and much innocent Blood shed, so that Blood touched Blood, yea, _Sodoms_ sins have abounded amongst us. Pride, fulness of Bread, Idleness, Vanities of Apparel, and shameful sensuality filled the Land.

And Alas! how great hath been the Cry of Oppression and Unrighteousness, Iniquity hath been established by a Law, there hath been a great perverting of Justice, by making and executing unrighteous Statutes and Acts, and sad persecutions of many for their Conscience towards G.o.d.

It is also matter of Lamentation, that under this great Defection, there hath been too general a fainting not only amongst Professours of the Gospel, but also amongst Ministers; yea, even amongst such, who in the main things did endeavour to maintain their Integrity, in not giving seasonable and necessary Testimony against the Defections and Evils of the Time, and keeping a due distance from them, and some on the other hand managed their Zeal with too little Discretion and Meekness.

It is also matter of Humiliation, that when Differences fell out amongst these, who did own Truth, and bear witness against the Course of Defection, they were not managed with due Charity and Love, but with too much heat and bitterness, injurious Reflections used against Pious and Worthy men on all hands, and scandalous Divisions occasioned, and the Success of the Gospel greatly obstructed thereby, and some dangerous Principles drunk in: And after all this, there were shameful advances towards Popery, the abomination of the Ma.s.s was set up in many places, and Popish Schools erected, and severals fell to Idolatry.

And though the Lord hath put a stop to the Course of Defection, and of his great mercy given us some reviving from our Bondage; yet we have sad cause to regrate and bemoan, that few have a due sense of our mercy, or walk answerable thereto; Few are turned to the Lord in truth, but the wicked go on to do wickedly; And there is found amongst us to this day, shameful ingrat.i.tude for our mercies, Horrid impenitency under our sins, yea, even among those, who stand most up for the defence of the Truth: And amongst many in our Armies, there is woful Prophanness and Debauchery. And though we profess to acknowledge, there can be no Pardon of Sins, no Peace and Reconciliation with G.o.d, but by the Blood of Jesus Christ; Yet few know Him, or see the Necessity and Excellency of the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; few see their need of him, or esteem, desire, or receive him as he is offered in the Gospel; few are acquainted with Faith in Jesus Christ, and living by Faith in Him, as made of the Father unto us, wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption; And few walk as becometh the Gospel, and imitate our Holy Lord in Humility, Meekness, Self-denial, Heavenly mindedness, Zeal for G.o.d, and Charity towards Men: But as there is even untill now, a great contempt of the Gospel, a great Barrenness under it; So a deep Security under our sin and Danger, a great want of Piety toward G.o.d, and Love towards Men, with a woful Selfishness, every one seeking their own things, few the things of Christ, or the publick Good, or one anothers welfare: And finally, the most part more ready to Censure the sins of others, than to Repent of their own.

Our Iniquities are increased over our Heads, and our Trespa.s.ses are grown up unto the Heavens, they are many in number, and hainous in their nature, and grievously aggravated, as having been contrary to great Light and Love, under signal Mercies and Judgments, after Confession and Supplication, and notwithstanding of our Profession, Promises and solemn Vowing, and Covenanting with G.o.d to the contrary.

Have we not then sad cause of deep Sorrow and Humiliation? And may we not fear, if we do not repent, and turn from the evil of our wayes, and return to the Lord with all our hearts, that he return to do us evil, after He hath done us good, and be angry with us, until he hath consumed us?

Let us therefore humble our selves by fasting and Praying, let us search out our sins, and consider our wayes, and confess these, and other our sins, with Sorrow and Detestation; Let us Turn unto the Lord with fasting and weeping, and with mourning; Let us firmly resolve and sincerely Engage to amend our wayes and doings, and return unto the Lord our G.o.d, with all our hearts, and earnestly pray, that for the Blood of the Lamb of G.o.d, our sins may be forgiven, and our back slidings healed, and we may yet become a Righteous Nation, keeping the Truth, that Religion and Righteousness may flourish, and Love and Charity abound, and all the Lords People may be of one mind in the Lord: And in order to all these, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, and that the Preaching of the Word, and Dispensing of the Sacraments, may be accompanied with the wonted Presence, Power and Blessing of the Spirit of the Lord, That the Lord would Preserve and bless our gracious _King_ and _Queen_, _William_ and _Mary_, and establish their Throne by Righteousness and Religion, and grant to these Nations, Peace and Truth together; And for that End, bless and prosper His Majesties Councils, and Forces by Sea and Land, and these of the Princes and States his Allies, for G.o.d and his Truth; That inferior Rulers may Rule in the fear of G.o.d and Judges be cloathed with Righteousness, and that many faithful Labourers may be sent out into the Lord's Vineyard, and they who are sent, may find mercy to be Faithful, and be blest with Success; That Families may be as little Churches of Christ, and that the Lord would pour out His Spirit on all Ranks of People, that they may be Holy in all manner of Conversation, and G.o.d may delight to dwell amongst us and to do us good.

And while we pray for our selves, let us not forget our Brethren in Foreign Churches, with whom, alas! we had too little Sympathy; Nay let us pray, that all the Ends of the Earth, may see the Salvation of G.o.d; And that he would bring His ancient people of the _Jews_ to the Acknowledgment of Jesus Christ; And that he would hasten the Ruine of Romish Babylon and advance the Reformation in Christendome, and preserve and bless the Reformed Churches; That he would pitie His oppressed People, the _French Protestants_, and gather them out of all places, whither they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day; And that He would be the Defence, Strength and Salvation of any of His People, who are in War or Danger by Infidel or Popish adversaries, in _Europe_ or _America:_ And in particular, that the Lord would be Gracious to _Ireland_, and sanctifie to His People there, both their distress and Deliverance, and perfect what concerneth them, that he would Convert the Natives there to the Truth, Reduce that Land to Peace; And appoint Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks to _Brittain_.

For all these Causes and Reasons, The General a.s.sembly hath Appointed the Second Thursday of _January_ next, to be Observed in all the Congregations of this Church and Nation, as a day of Solemn Fasting and Humiliation, and Prayer; Beseeching and Obtesting all, both Pastors and People, of all Ranks to be sincere and serious, in Humiliation and Supplication, and universal Reformation, as they would wish to find mercy of the Lord and have deserved wrath averted, and would obtain the Blessing of the Lord upon themselves and Posterity after them; And that the Lord may delight in us, and our Land may be as Married to Him. And Ordains all Ministers, either in Kirks or Meeting houses, to Read this present Act publickly from the Pulpit, a Sabbath or two before the said Day of Humiliation: and that the several Presbyteries take care, that it be carefully observed in their Respective bounds. And where, in regard of Vacancies, the Day hereby appointed, cannot be observed; The a.s.sembly appoints the said Humiliation to be kept some other Day with the first convenient opportunity. And Appoints the Commission for Visitation, to apply to the Council for their Civil Sanction to the Observation thereof.

XIII. _Act anent Sentences past against Ministers from the Year 1650. &c._

The General a.s.sembly does hereby declare, all Sentences, past against any Ministers _Hinc Inde_, by any Church Judicatory, upon the Account of the late Differences among Presbyterians, from the Year 1650. Till the Re-introduction of Prelacy, to be of themselves void and null, to all Effects and Intents. And Siclike the General a.s.sembly hereby Recommends, to the Respective Presbyteries, to take care, that such of these Ministers, as are not otherways disposed of by the Church, Return to the exercise of their Ministry, in their Respective Congregations. And also hereby Recommends to the Civil Magistrate, that the saids Ministers may have the Lega Maintainances and Stipends where they served.

Edinburgh 13 of November 1690. _Post Meridiem._ Sess. 26.

XIV. _The a.s.semblies Letter to His Majesty._

_May it please Your Majesty._

The Happiness we have had by Your Majesties influence, as an Instrument in the Hand of G.o.d, towards us for good, and the Countenance You have given us in Holding this National a.s.sembly of the Church of _Scotland_, Doth Encourage us to make Application again to Your Majesty; That as in our Answer to Your Gracious Letter direct to us in the Entrance of this a.s.sembly, we Engaged to Your Majesty that in all things that should come before us, we would carry with that Calmnes and Moderation, which becometh the Ministers of the Gospel of Peace, and which Your Majesty did so effectually Recommend to us; So now in the Close of this our a.s.sembly, we presume to acquaint Your Majesty, That through the good Hand of G.o.d upon us, we have in a great measure performed accordingly: Having applied our selves, mostly and especially, to what concerned this whole Church, and endeavoured by all means Ecclesiastical, and proper for us, to promote the Good thereof, together with the Quiet of the Kingdom, and Your Majesties Satisfaction and Contentment. And G.o.d hath been pleased to Bless our Endeavours, in our Receiving to the Unity and Order of this Church, some who had withdrawn, and now have joyned with us, and promised Subjection: And in providing for the Propagation of Religion, and the Knowledge of G.o.d, in the most Barbarous places of the _Highlands_, which may be the surest way of Reducing these people also unto Your Majesties Obedience: And especially in Regulating the Ministers of this Church, after so great Revolutions and Alterations: For we have according to the use and practice of this Church, ever since the first Reformation from Popery, appointed Visitations both for the Southern and Northern parts of this Kingdom, Consisting of the Gravest and most Experienced Ministers and Elders: To whom we have given Instructions about the late Conformists, that none of them shall be Removed from their Places, but such as are either Insufficient, or Scandalous, or Erroneous, or Supinely Negligent: And that these of them be admitted to Ministerial Communion with us, who upon due Trial, and in a Competent Time for that Trial, shall be found to be Orthodox in Doctrine, of Competent Abilities, of a G.o.dly, Peaceable, and Loyal Conversation, and who shall be judged Faithfull to G.o.d and to the Government: And who shall likewayes Promise to own, Submit unto, and Concurre with it. We have also taken Care, that all persons, who shall be found to have received wrong, in any Inferior Judicatory of this Church, shall be duly Redressed: Other things which are not of so Universal a Concern, we have delayed till the next General a.s.sembly. This Account Great SIR, we look upon our selves as Obliged to give unto Your Majesty, for that great Goodness, You have been pleased to express, in giving such Countenance to this a.s.sembly, and in appointing such Commissioner to Represent Your Royal Person, who hath been in all his Conduct in this Affair, most acceptable unto us. That G.o.d may Bless Your Majesty, and our most Gracious Queen, with all Blessings, which concern both this Life, and the Life to come, is the earnest Prayer of.

_May it please your Majesty,_ _ Your Majesties most Faithful,_ _ Most Humble and most Obedient,_ _ Subjects and Servants._

Subscribed in Name, and at the Appointment of the General a.s.sembly, by

_HU. KENNEDIE._ Moderator.

XV. _Instructions to the Commissions for Visitations on the South and North sides of Tay._

The following Instructions to the Commission for Visitations on this side of _Tay_, were Read in presence of the a.s.sembly.

"1. That there be appointed by the a.s.sembly, a Delegate number of the most experienced Ministers and Elders. This number to be Forty Ministers, and Twenty Ruling Elders, fifteen of them to a _Quorum_, ten of these being alwayes Ministers; And that they at their first Session, Choose their Moderator and Clerk; And for the Sub-committe betwixt the Quarterly Meetings, nine to be the _Quorum_, six of these being alwayes Ministers."

"2. That the Work of this Commission for Visitations be, to take to their Cognizance all References, and Appeals, and other things, which being stated before this a.s.sembly, shall by them be specially Referred to the said Commission, to determine the same."