[Transcriber’s Note: This 17th-century book was printed in the
typographical conventions and spelling of that time; for instance, the
printed book used the long _f_-shaped glyph for the letter _s_, it
included old spellings such as _Kingdome_, _civill_, and _publick_, and
old words such as _hes_, _samine_, and _welas_, and numbers generally are
ended with a period. In this transcription, archaic printing is replaced
with modern characters, so the letter _s_ appears as _s_, with the effect
that what in the original book would look like _Minifters_ is here
transcribed _Ministers_, but archaic spelling, capitalization,
punctuation, and usage are transcribed as they appeared in the printed
book.]
It were long, neither do we now intend, to represent, what in the
beginning, by the Mercies of our _God_ and Ministry of his faithful
Servants, was the reformation of this Kirk: what purity of Doctrine and
Worship, what Order, what Authority, and what Unity continued for many
years, by the Prayers and Labours of Ministers and Professors, what
Novations and Corruptions have been introduced upon us of late, in the
time of our Division and Detection, by such as have ever been enemies to
the Cross of _Christ_, and who have minded earthly things: How manifold
and how comfortable experience we have at this time of the care and
compassions of our _Lord_ and _Saviour_ preventing the utter ruine of
Religion, and the horrible vastation of this Kirk, by looking upon the
afflictions of his people, by hearing their groans, mocked by the World:
And by moving the Heart of our gracious and dread Soveraign the Kings
Majesty to conveen a free national Assembly for redressing the wrongs done
to Religion, and what undeniable testimonies, and notable manifestations
of the divine presence and assistance of _Christ_, have accompanied this
meeting and whole work. _Who so is wise and observeth these things will
see the loving kindness of the Lord_.
For the present it seemed necessary that such of the Acts and
Constitutions of the Assembly as are of most general concernment should be
published in print; the correct writing of so many Copies as were called
for, not being possible to be exped in due time, and the Kirk having
resolved upon this course in former times, which, had it been keeped, our
defection through the almost invincible ignorance of the proceedings of
the Kirk, had not proven so dangerous and deplorable.
In these Acts and Constitutions special regard was had to our _National
Confession of Faith_, as it was at first and diverse times after professed
and is now of late sworn and subscribed, that all mens minds, who delight
not to cavil, might rest satisfied in the true meaning thereof, found out
by the diligent search of the Ecclesiastick Registers. Our care was also
rather at this time to revive and bring to light, former laudable Acts,
than to make any new ones, reflecting as little as might be upon the
reformation of other Kirks, and choosing to receive our directions from
our own _Reformation_, approven by the ample testimony of so many
_Forreign Divines_: according to the example of the venerable Assembly at
_Dort_, where special caution was, that the 30. and 31. article of the
Confession of the _Belgick_ Kirks touching _Ecclesiastick Order_ should
not be examined by _Strangers_, there being a _Difference_ touching that
point amongst _Reformed Kirks_, So many as were present can bear witness
that all the _Members of the Assembly_ were many times called on, and
required to propone their _Doubts_, and to give their _Judgments_ of every
_Article_, before it was Enacted, that every one might receive
_Satisfaction_, and from the full perswasion of his mind might give his
_Voice_: Wherin the _Unanimity_ and _Harmony_ was the more admirable, that
many parting from their _preconceived Opinions_, which had possessed their
_Minds_, did most willingly receive the _Light_, which did now
unexpectedly appear from the _Records_ of the _Kirk_.
That this _Extract_ shall stop the _Mouthes_ of the malicious, is more
than we can promise, or should be expected, We know there be some
Incendiaries who would with great joy and content of mind, seek their lost
penny in the ashes of this poor Kirk and Kingdom: And we have already
found, that our _Laboures_ and the grounds whereupon we have proceeded,
before they be seen, are misconstrued by so many as finds their hopes
blasted, and are come short of their earthly projects: but our comfort is
that we have walked in the truth of our hearts as in the sight of God,
That the Adversaries of the Kirk have not transformed themselves into
Angels of light, nor can say they are doing _God_ service, but are seen in
their colours, and do seek themselves, and that so many as have erred
before, not knowing the order and constitutions of this Kirk, will as
absent Children to their mother speaking plainly and powerfully of old and
now after long silence opening her mouth again, and uttering her mind in a
free Assembly, hear her voice, and with that reverence that beseemeth
under the supreme Majesty of _Christ_, obey her directions, that being all
of one mind, peace may be upon us, and upon the Kirk of _God_; and the
_God_ of peace, and love may be with us. 1639.