The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland Part 13

The a.s.sembly taking to their consideration the question proponed unto them concerning the Band, the copy whereof was presented before them from the Parliament, doth find and declare that Bands of this and the like nature, may not lawfully be made: By which Declaration the a.s.sembly doth not intend to bring any censure for what is past, and by the wisedome and care of the Committee of the Parliament is taken away, upon any person, who being required by the Moderator and the Clerk, shall under his hand declare before them, That as the a.s.sembly doth finde that the subscribers are not astricted by their Oath to the tenor of the said Band, so he findeth himself not to be astricted by his Oath to the tenor thereof; but the intention of the a.s.sembly is meerly to prevent the like in time coming.

Sess. 18. August 9. 1641. a meridie.

_A Letter from some Ministers in_ England _to the a.s.semblie._

_Right Reverend and dear Brethren, now conveened in this Generall a.s.sembly,_

Wee most heartily salute you in the Lord, rejoycing with you in his unspeakable goodnesse, so miraculously prospering your late endeavours, both for the restoring and settling of your own Liberties and Priviledges, in Church and common wealth (which we heare and hope he is now about to accomplish) as also for the occasioning and advancing of the Worke of Reformation among our selves; for which as we daily blesse the highest Lord, sole Author of all one good, so doe we acknowledge your selves worthy Instruments thereof. And for that (besides all other respects) doe, and ever shall (by the help of G.o.d) hold you deare unto us, as our own bowels, and our selves obliged to tender unto you all due correspondence according to our power, upon all good occasions.

And now (dear Brethren) forasmuch as the Church of Christ is but one body, each part whereof cannot but partake in the weale and woe of the whole, and of Each other part; and these Churches of _England_ and _Scotland_, may seem both to be imbarqued in the same bottome, to sink and swim together, and are so near conjoyned by many strong tyes, not only as fellow members under the same Head Christ, and fellow-subjects under the same King; but also by such neighbour-hood and vicinity of place, that if any evil shall much infest the one, the other cannot bee altogether free: Or if for the present it should, yet in processe of time it would sensibly suffer also. And forasmuch as evils are better remedied in their first beginning, then after they have once taken deep root; therefore we whose names are here under-written, in the behalf of our selves, and of many others, Ministers of the Church of _England_ be bold to commend to your consideration; (being met together in this venerable a.s.sembly) a difference of great concernment, which you may please (in brief) thus to understand. Almighty G.o.d having now of his infinite goodnesse raised up our hopes of removing the yoke of Episcopacie (under which we have so long groaned) sundry other forms of Church-government are by sundry sorts of men projected, to be set up in the roome thereof: One of which (amongst others) is of some Brethren that hold the whole power of Church-government, & all Acts thereunto appertaining (as Election, Ordination, and Deposition of Officers, with Admission, Excommunication & Absolution of Members) are by divine Ordinance _in foro externo_, to be decreed by the most voices, in, and of every particular Congregation, which (say they) is the utmost bound of a particular Church: endued with power of Government, & only some Formalities of solemne execution to be reserved to the Officers (as servants of the saids Church) if they have any, or if none, then to be performed by some other members, not in office, whom the said Church shal appoint thereunto, And that every of the said particular Congregations (whether they consists of few or many Members, and be furnished with Offices or not) lawfull: may & ought to transact, determine & execute all matters pertaining to the government of themselves amongst & within themselves without any authoritative (though not consulatory) concurrence or interposition of any other persons or Churches whatsoever, condemning all imperative and decisive power of Cla.s.ses, or compound Presbyteries and Synods, as a meere usurpation. Now because we conceive that your judgement in this case may conduce much by the blessing of G.o.d, to the settling of this question amongst us; Therefore we doe earnestly intreat the same at your hands, and that so much the rather, because we sometimes hear from those of the aforesaid judgement, that some famous and eminent Brethren, even amongst your selves, doe somewhat encline unto an approbation of that way of government. Thus humbly craving pardon for our boldnesse, leaving the matter to your grave considerations, and expecting answer at your convenient leasure, We commit you, and the successe of this your meeting, to the blessing of the Almighty, in whom we shall ever remain.

_London, 12 Ju'y. 1641._

_Your faithfull Brethren to serve you in all offices of love._

_The a.s.semblies Answer to the English Ministers Letter._

_Right reverend and dearly beloved Brethren in our Lord and common Saviour Jesus Christ._

Wee the Ministers and Elders met together in this Nationall a.s.sembly, were not a little refreshed and comforted by the good report which we heard of you, and others of our Brethren of the Kirk of _England_, by some of our Ministers, who by the good providence of our Lord had seen your faces, and conversed with you. But now yet more comforted by your Letters which we received, and which were read in the face of the a.s.sembly, witnessing your Christian love, and rejoycing with us in G.o.d for his great and wonderfull Work in the Reformation of this Kirk, and in the beginning of a blessed Reformation amongst your selves, and that you are so sensible of your communion and fellows.h.i.+p with us, and to desire to know our minde and judgement of that which some Brethren amongst you hold, concerning Kirk-government.

We doe with our hearts acknowledge and wonder at the great and unspeakable wisedome, mercie, and power of our G.o.d, in restoring unto us the truth and puritie of Religion, after many Back-slidings and defection of some in this Kirk, & desire not only to confesse the same before the world, and all other Christian Kirks, but also doe pray for grace to walk worthy of so wonderful a love: We have been helped by your prayers, in our weak endeavours, & you have mourned with us, (we know) in the dayes of our mourning; and therefore is it that you doe now rejoyce and praise G.o.d with us. Neither are we out of hope, but the same G.o.d shall speedily perfect that which he hath begun amongst you, that your joy may be full, which is the desire of our soule, and for which we doe now pray, and in our severall Congregations will be instant at the throne of grace, for this and all other spirituall and temporall blessings upon the Kirk and Kingdome of _England_, by name, expecting the like performance of mutuall love from you and others equally minded with you, for your parts, till a common consent may be obtained, even that you will recommend the Kirk of _Scotland_ by name in your prayers to G.o.d. Thus shall we be as one people, mourning and rejoycing, praying and praising together; which may be one meane of the preservation of Unity, and of many other blessings to us both.

We have learned by long experience, ever since the time of the Reformation, and specially after the two Kingdomes have been (in the great goodnesse of G.o.d to both) united under one Head and Monarch, but most of all of late, which is not unknown to you, what danger and contagion in matters of Kirk-government, of divine wors.h.i.+p, and of doctrine, may come from the one Kirk to the other, which beside all other reasons make us to pray to G.o.d, and to desire you, and all that love the honour of Christ, and the peace of these Kirks and Kingdomes, heartily to endeavour, that there might be in both Kirks, one Confession, one Directory for publicke wors.h.i.+p, one Catechisme, and one Forme of Kirk-government. And if the Lord who hath done great things for us, shall be pleased to hearken unto our desires, and to accept of our endeavours, we shall not only have a sure foundation for a durable Peace, but shall be strong in G.o.d, against the rising or spreading of Heresie and Schisme amongst our selves, and of invasion from forraine enemies.

Concerning the different Formes of Kirk-government, projected by sundrie sorts of men, to be set up in place of Episcopall Hierarchie, which we trust is brought near unto its period, we must confesse, that we are not a little grieved that any G.o.dly Ministers and Brethren should be found, who doe not agree with other Reformed Kirks in the point of government as well as in the matter of Doctrine and wors.h.i.+p; and that we want not our own feares, that where the hedge of Discipline and Government is different, the Doctrine and Wors.h.i.+p shall not long continue the same without change: yet doe not marvell much, that particular Kirks and Congregations which live in such places, as that they can conveniently have no dependencie upon superiour a.s.semblies, should stand for a kind of independencie and supremacie in themselves, they not considering that in a nation or Kingdome, professing the same Religion, the government of the Kirk by compound Presbyteries and Synods is a help and strength, and not a hinderance or prejudice to particular Congregations and Elders.h.i.+ps, in all the parts of Kirk-government; and that Presbyteries and Synods are not an extrinsecall power set over particular Kirks, like unto Episcopal dominion, they being no more to be reputed extrinsecal unto the particular Kirks, nor the power of a Parliament, or Convention of Estates, where the s.h.i.+res and Cities have their own Delegates, is to be held extrinsecal to any particular s.h.i.+re or City.

Our unanimous judgement and uniforme practice, is, that according to the order of the Reformed Kirks, and the ordinance of G.o.d in his Word, not onely the solemne execution of Ecclesiastical power and authoritie, but the whole acts and exercise thereof, do properly belong unto the Officers of the Kirk; yet so that in matters of chiefest importance, the tacite consent of the Congregation be had, before their decrees and sentences receive final execution, and that the Officers of a particular Congregation, may not exercise this power independently, but with subordination unto greater Presbyteries and Synods, Provincial and National: Which as they are representative of the particular Kirks conjoyned together in one under their government; so their determination, when they proceed orderly, whether in causes common to all, or many of the Kirks, or in causes brought before them by appellations or references from the inferiour, in the case of aberation of the inferiour, is to the several Congregations authoritative and obligatorie and not consultatory only: And this dependencie and subordination, we conceive not only to be warranted by the light of nature, which doth direct the Kirk in such things as are common to other societies, or to be a prudential way for Reformation, and for the preservation of Truth and Peace, against Schisme, Heresie, and Tyranny, which is the sweet fruits of this government wheresoever hath place, and which we have found in ancient and late experience; but also to be grounded upon the Word of G.o.d, and to be conforme to the paterne of the Primitive and Apostolical Kirks: And without which, neither could the Kirks in this Kingdome have been reformed, nor were we able for any time to preserve Truth and Unity amongst us.

In this forme of Kirk-government, our unanimity and harmony by the mercy of G.o.d, is so full and perfect, that all the Members of this a.s.sembly have declared themselves to be of one heart, and of one soule, and to be no lesse perswaded, that it is of G.o.d, then that Episcopal government is of men; resolving by the grace of G.o.d, to hold the same constantly all the dayes of our life, and heartily wis.h.i.+ng that G.o.d would blesse all the Christians Kirks, especially the famous Kirk of _England_, unto which in all other respects we are so nearly joyned with this divine Forme of government. Thus having briefly and plainly given our judgement for your satisfaction, and desiring and hoping that ye will beleeve against all mis-reports, that we know not so much as one man, more or lesse eminent amongst us, of a different judgement, we commend you unto the riches of the grace of Christ, who will perfect that which he had begun amongst you, to your unspeakable comfort. Subscribed by our Moderator and Clerk.

_Edinburgh 9. August, 1641._

_The a.s.semblies Answer to the Kings Majesties Letter._

Most gracious Soveraign,

Beside the conscience of that duetie which we owe to supreme Authority, we are not only encouraged, but confirmed by the Royal favour and Princely munificence, expressed in Your gracious Majesties Letters, which filled our hearts with joy, and our mouths with praise, to offer up our prayers with the greater fervencie to G.o.d Almightie for your Majesties happinesse, our selves for our own parts, and for the whole Kirks of this your Majesties Kingdome, which we doe represent, to serve Your Majestie in all humble obedience, our faithful labours for preserving Trueth and Peace amongst all Your Majesties Subjects, and our example (according to Your Majesties just commandments laid upon us) to be a presedent to others in paying that honour, which by all Lawes divine and humane, is due unto Your sacred Majestie, being confident that your Majestie shall finde at your coming hither much more satisfaction and content then can be expressed by

_Your Majesties most humble Subjects and faithful Servants, the Ministers and Elders met together in the vonerable a.s.sembly at_ St. Andrews, _July 20, and_ Edinburgh, _July 27. 1641._

_Act anent the Kirk of_ Campheir.

The which day a motion was made in the a.s.sembly, that it seemed expedient for correspondencie that might be had from forraigne parts, for the weal of this Kirk, That the Scots Kirk at _Campheir_ were joyned to the Kirk of _Scotland_, as a Member thereof: Which being seriously thought upon and considered by the a.s.sembly, they approved the motion, and ordained Master _Robert Baillie_ Minister at _Cilwinning_, to write to Master _William Spang_ Minister at _Campheir_, and Kirk-Session thereof, willing them to send their Minister, and a ruling Elder, instructed with a Commission to the next General a.s.sembly to be holden at St _Andrews_, the last Wednesday of _July 1642._ at which time they should be inrolled in the Books of the General a.s.sembly, as the Commissioners of the General a.s.sembly of _Scotland_, from the Scots Kirk at _Campheir_.

_The a.s.sembly appoints the next General a.s.sembly to be holden at_ St.

Andrews, _the last Wednesday of_ July _next_, 1642.

THE GENERALL a.s.sEMBLY, CONVEENED AT S. ANDREWS, JULY 27. 1642.

Act Sess. 1. July 27. 1642.

_The Kings Letter to the Generall a.s.sembly, presented by His Majesties Commissioner, the Earle of_ Dumfermling, _July 27. 1642._

CHARLES R.

In the midst of Our great and weighty affaires of Our other kingdoms, which G.o.d Almighty, who is privie to Our Intentions, and in whom We trust, will in his own time bring to a wished and peaceable conclusion, We are not unmindfull of that duetie which we owe to that Our ancient and native Kingdome, and to the Kirks there, now met together by their Commissioners in a Nationall a.s.sembly. G.o.d whose Vice-gerent We are, hath made Us a King over divers Kingdomes, and We have no other desire, nor designe, but to govern them by their own Lawes, and the Kirks in them by their own Canons and Const.i.tutions. Where any thing is found to be amisse, We will endeavour a Reformation in a fair and orderly way; and where a Reformation is settled, We resolve, with that authoritie where with G.o.d hath in vested Us, to maintain and defend it in peace and libertie, against all trouble that can come from without, and against all Heresies, Sects, and Schismes which may arise from within. Nor do We desire any thing more in that Kingdom (and when We shall hear of it, it shall be a delight and matter of gladnesse unto Us) then that the Gospel be faithfully preached throughout the whole Kingdom, to the outmost skirts and borders thereof. Knowing that to be the mean of honour to G.o.d, of happinesse to the people, and of true obedience to Us. And for this effect, that holy and able men be put in places of the Ministery, and that Schooles and Colledges may flourish in Learning and true Pietie. Some things for advancing of those ends, We did of Our own accord promise in Our Letters to the last a.s.sembly, and We make your selves Judges, who were witnesses to Our Actions, while We were there in Person, whether we did not perform them both in the point of presentations which are in our hands, and in the liberall provision of all the Universities and Colledges of the Kingdome, not only above that which any of Our Progenitors had done before Us, but also above your owne hopes and expectation. We doe not make commemoration of this Our Beneficence, either to please Ourselves, or to stop the influence of Our Royal goodnesse and Bountie for afterward, but that by these reall demonstrations of Our unfained desires and delight to do good, you may be the more confident to expect from Us, whatsoever in Justice We can grant, or what may be expedient for you to obtaine. We have given expresse charge to Our Commissioner, to see that all things be done there orderly and peaceably, as if We were present in Our Own Person; not doubting but in thankfulnesse for your present estate and condition, you will abstaine from every thing that may make any new disturbance, and that you will be more wise then to be the enemies of your own peace, which would but stumble others, and ruine your selves. We have also commanded Our Commissioner to receive from you your just and reasonable desires, for what may further serve for the good of Religion, that taking them to Our consideration, We may omit nothing which may witnesse Us to be indeed a nursing Father of that Kirk, wherein We were born and baptized, and that if ye be not happy, you may blame not Us, but your selves. And now what doe We again require of you, but that which otherwise you owe to Us as your Soveraigne Lord and King, even that ye pray for Our prosperitie and the peace of Our Kingdomes, that ye use the best meanes to keep Our People in obedience to Us and Our Lawes, which doth very much in Our personall absence from that Our Kingdom depend upon your preaching, and your owne exemplary loyaltie and faithfulnesse, and that against all such jealousies, suspitions, and sinister rumors as are too frequent in these times, and have been often falsified in time past, by the reality of the contrary events: Ye judge Us and Our professions by Our actions, which we trust through G.o.d in despight of malice shall ever go on in a constant way for the good of Religion, and the weal of Our People, which is the Chiefest of Our intentions and desires. And thus We bid you farewell.

_Given at Our Court at_ Leicester, _the 23. of_ July, 1642.

_To Our trusty and wel beloved the Generall a.s.sembly in our Kingdom of_ Scotland _conveened at_ S. Andrews.

Act Sess 3. July 29. 1642.

_Act for bringing in of the Synode Books yeerly to the General a.s.semblies._

The Moderator calling to minde that which was forgotten in the preceeding Sessions, the examination of the Provincial Books, caused call the Roll of the Provinciall a.s.semblies, And the a.s.sembly finding very few Provinces to have sent their Books to this a.s.sembly, notwithstanding of the ordinance of the former a.s.sembly thereanent, for the more exact obedience of that ordinance hereafter, the a.s.sembly in one voyce ordaines, That the Books of every Provincial a.s.sembly shall be brought and produced to every General a.s.sembly: And that this may be performed, ordaines that every Clerk of the Provincials, either bring or send the said Books yearly to the General a.s.semblies, by the Commissioners sent to the a.s.semblies, from these Presbyteries where the Clerks reside. Which charge the a.s.sembly also layes upon the said Commissioners, sent from the saids Presbyteries where the Clerks reside, may and while some meanes be provided, whereby the Clerks charges may be sustained for coming with the saids Books themselves: And that under the pain of deprivation of the Clerk, in case of his neglect, and of such censure of the saids Commissioners, in case of their neglect as the a.s.sembly shall think convenient.