Trustie and welbeloved, Wee greet you well. It is no small part of Our
Royall care and desires, that the true Reformed Religion, wherein by the
grace of God, We resolve to live and dye, be settled peaceably in that Our
ancient and native Kingdome of _Scotland_, and that the same be truly
taught, and universally received and professed by Our Subjects there, of
all degrees. For preventing of all division and trouble hereafter, We did
intend in Our Own Royall Person, to have been present at this Assembly;
but conceiving it to be unfitting, to detaine the Ministers from their
particular charges, till the time of Our coming to the Parliament. We have
resolved to make knowne unto you by these, and by Our Commissioner, That
in the approaching Parliament, it is Our intention by Our authority, to
ratifie and confirm the Constitutions of the late Assembly at _Edinburgh_,
that they may be obeyed by all Our Subjects living in that Our Kingdome.
And that We will take into Our Royall consideration, by what meanes the
Churches belonging to Our presentation, when any of them shall happen to
need, may be best provided with well qualified Preachers: Like as We are
not unwilling, to grant presentations unto such as in these times of
trouble have entred into the Ministerie, providing they have been examined
by the Presbyteries, and approved by them: Because We want not Our own
feares of the decay of Learning in that Church and Kingdome, We intend
also to consider of the best meanes for helping the Scooles and Colledges
of Learning especially of Divinity, that there may be such a number of
Preachers there, as that each Parish having a Minister, and the Gospel
being preached in the most remote parts of the Kingdome, all Our Subjects
may taste of Our care in that kinde, and have more and more cause to
blesse God that we are set over them. And finally, so tender is Our care,
that it shall not be Our fault if the Churches and Colledges there
flourish not in Learning and Religion: For which Royall testimonie of Our
goodnesse, We require nothing upon your part, but that which God hath
bound you unto, even that you be faithfull in the charge committed unto
you, and care for the soules of the people: That you study Peace and Unity
amongst your selves, and amongst the people, against all Schisme and
Faction; and that you not only pray for Us, but that you teach the People,
which We trust are not unwilling to pay that honour and obedience which
they owe unto Us, as his Vicegerent set over them, for their good; wherein
We expect you will by your good example goe before them. Which hoping you
will doe, We bid you farewell. _From Our Court at_ Whitehall, _the 10. day
of July 1641._
Sess. 3. July 28. 1641.
_Act approving the Overtures of the Assembly at_ Aberdene, _for ordering
the Assembly-House_.
The Overtures for ordering the Assembly-House, given in to, and approved
by the Assembly of _Aberdene_ the _29. July 1640._ Act Sess. 2 were openly
read, and again approved by this Assembly, and ordained to be kept the
whole time thereof.
Sess. 5. July 30. 1641.
_Act anent old Ministers bruiking their Benefices._
The Assembly having considered the Supplication given in by Doctor _Robert
Howie_, Provest of the new Colledge of S. _Andrews_, whereby he craved,
that (notwithstanding of his admission of his charge) he should not be
prejudged of his full provision and maintenance during his life time: The
Assembly thinks it fit and necessary, that his provision and maintenance
should not be diminished, but that he should injoy the same fully, as
before during all the dayes of his life time, and craveth his dismission
to be only but a cessation from his charge, because of his age and
inability: And declares, that old Ministers and professors of Divinitie,
shall not by their cessation from their charge, through age and
inabilitie, be put from injoing their old maintenance & dignity. And
recommends this and others the like things, concerning the estate of that
Universitie of S. _Andrews_, to the Parliament, and the Visitation to be
appointed from the Assembly & Parliament. And likewise the Assembly being
informed, that the said Doctor _Howie_ hath been very painfull in his
charge, and that he hath divers papers which would be very profitable for
the Kirk: Therefore they think fit, that the said doctor _Howie_ be
desired to collect these papers, which doeth concerne, & may be profitable
for the use of the Kirk, that the samine may be showne to the Visitors of
the said Universitie.
Sess. 8. Aug. 2. 1641. a meridie.
_Act against sudden receiving Ministers deposed._
The Assembly ordaines, that Ministers who are deposed either by
Presbyteries, Synods, or Generall Assemblies, or Committees from
Assemblies for the publike cause of the Reformation and order of this
Kirk, shall not be suddenly received againe to the Ministerie, till they
first evidence their repentance both before the Presbyterie and Synod,
within the bounds where they were deposed, and thereafter the samine
reported to the next ensuing Generall Assembly.
Sess. 9. Aug. 3. 1641.
_The Overtures under-written, concerning the Universities and Colledges of
this Kingdome to be represented by the Generall Assembly, to the Kings
Majesty and Parliament, being openly read, the Assembly approved the saids
Overtures, and ordained them to be recommended to the Parliament._
First, because the good estate both of the Kirk and Commonwealth,
dependeth mainly upon the flourishing of Universities and Colledges, as
the Seminaries of both, which cannot be expected, unlesse the poore meanes
which they have, be helped, and sufficient revenues be provided for them
and the same well imployed: Therefore that out of the rents of prelacies;
Collegiat or Chapter-Kirks, or such like, a sufficient maintenance be
provided for a competent number of Professors, Teachers, and Bursers in
all faculties, and especially in Divinitie, and for upholding, repairing,
and enlarging the Fabrick of the Colledges, furnishing Libraries, and
suchlike good uses in every Universitie and Colledge.
II. Next for keeping of good order, preveening and removing of abuses, and
promoving of pietie and learning, it is very needfull & expedient, that
there be a communion and correspondencie kept betwixt all the Universities
and Colledges. And therefore that it be ordained, that there be a meeting
once every year at such times and places as shall be agreed upon, of
Commissioners from every University and Colledge to consult and determine
upon the common affairs, and whatsoever may concerne them, for the ends
above-specified, and who also, or some of their number may represent what
shall be needfull and expedient for the same effect, to Parliaments and
Generall Assemblies.
III. _Item_, That special care be had that the places of the Professors,
especially of Professors of Divinity in every University and Colledge. Be
filled with the ablest men, and best affected to the Reformation and order
of this Kirk.
Sess. 10. August 4. 1641.
_Act against Impiety and Schisme._
The Assembly seriously considering the present case and condition of this
Kirk and Kingdome, what great things the Lord hath done for us, especially
since the renewing of our Covenant, notwithstanding our former backsliding
and desertion; and if we shall either become remisse in the dueties of
Piety, or shall not constantly hold and keep our Religion, unto which we
have bound ourselves so straitly and solemnly, what dishonour we doe unto
the Name of God before men, who have their eyes upon us, and how great
judgements we bring upon our selves, upon these and the like
considerations, The Assembly doth finde it most necessary to stirre up
themselves, and to provoke all others both Ministers and people of all
degrees, not only to the religious exercises of publike worship in the
Congregation, and of private worship in their families, and of every one
by themselves apart, but also to the duteies of mutual edification, by
instruction, admonition, exhorting one another to fordwardnesse in
Religion, and comforting one another in whatsoever distresse; and that in
all their meetings, whither in the way of civill conversation, or by
reason of their particular callings, or any other occasion offered by
divine providence, no corrupt communication proceed out of their mouth,
but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace
unto the hearers: And because the best means have been, and may still be
despised or abused, and particularly the duetie of mutual edification,
which hath been so little in use, and so few know how to practise in the
right manner, may be upon the one part subject to the mocking of ungodly
and worldly men, who cannot endure that in others, which they are not
willing to practise themselves, and upon the other part, to many errors
and abuses, to which the godly through their weaknes may fall, or by the
craftinesse of others may be drawn into, such as are Error, Heresie,
Schisme, Scandal, Self-conceit, and despising of others, pressing above
the common calling of Christians, and usurping that which is proper to the
Pastoral Vocation, contempt or misregard of the publike means idle and
unprofitable questions which edifie not, uncharitable censurings, neglect
of duties in particular callings, businesse in other mens Matters and
Callings, and many such others in doctrine, charity, and manners, which
have dolefully rent the bowels of other Kirks, to the great prejudice of
the Gospel.
Therefore the Assembly, moved with the zeal of God against all abuses and
corruptions, and according to their manifold obligations, most earnestly
desiring and thirsting to promove the work of Reformation, and to have the
comfort and power of true godlinesse sensible to every soul, and Religion
to be universally practised in every Family, and by every person at all
occasions, Doth charge all the Ministers and Members of this Kirk whom
they doe represent, that according to their several places and vocations,
they endeavour to suppresse all impiety and mocking of religious
exercises, especially of such as put foule aspersions, and factious or
odious names upon the godly. And upon the other part, that in the fear of
God they be aware and spiritually wise, that under the name and pretext of
religious exercises, otherwayes lawful and necessary, they fall not into
the aforesaid abuses; especially, that they eschew all meetings which are
apt to breed Error, Scandall, Schisme, neglect of dueties and particular
callings, and such other evils as are the works, not of the spirit, but of
the flesh, and are contrary to truth and peace; and that the Presbyteries
and Synods have a care to take order with such as transgresse the one way
or the other.
Sess. 14. August 6. 1641. a Meridie.
Act _anent Novations_.
Since it hath pleased God to vouchsafe us the libertie of yearly General
Assemblies, It is ordained according to the Acts of the Assembly at
_Edinburgh_ 1639. and at _Aberdene_ 1640. that no Novation in Doctrine,
Worship, or Government, be brought in, or practised in this Kirk, unlesse
it be first propounded, examined, and allowed in the General Assembly, and
that transgressors in this kinde be censured by Presbyteries and Synods.
Act. Sess. 15. August 7. 1641.
_Overtures anent Bursars, and Expectants._
_The Overtures under-written being openly read in audience of the
Assembly, were approved, and declared by them to be Acts of the Assembly,
in all time coming, to be observed_ respective, _as the samine bears._
The Assembly thinks meet for maintaining of Bursars of Divinitie, that
every Presbyterie that consists of twelve Ministers shall maintain a
Bursar, and where the number is fewer nor twelve, shall be joyned with
these out of another Presbyterie where their number exceeds; where this
course is not already kept, it is to be begun without longer delay, and
every Provincial is ordained to give an accompt of their number of
Bursars, that is constantly to be entertained by their Province, at the
next ensuing General Assembly.
II. No expectant shall be permitted to preach in publike before a
Congregation, till first he be tryed after the same manner, howbeit not
altogether with that accuracie which is injoyned by the act of the
Assembly of _Glasgow_ 1638. which prescribes the order and manner of
tryall that is to be kept with these who are to be admitted to the holy
Ministrie: and none so tryed shall preach in publike, without the bounds
of the University or Presbyterie where he past his tryalls, till he first
make it known to the other Presbyteries, where he desires to be heard, by
a testimoniall from the Universitie or Presbyterie where he lived, that he
hath bin of an honest conversation, and past his tryalls conform to the
order here prescribed: Which being done in the meeting of the Province or
Presbyterie, where he desires to be heard; he is to be allowed by them to
preach within the bounds of that Province or Presbyterie, without any
further tryall to be taken of him.
III. Expectants being educate in a Colledge that was corrupt, or under a
corrupt Minister, if they themselves have been known to have been tainted
with error, or opposite to our Covenant, and the blessed Work of
Reformation within this Kirk, the same order is to be kept in admitting
them to the holy Ministrie, or to any place in the Colledges or Schooles
of this Kingdome, that was ordained to be kept in admission of these
Ministers who fled out of the Countrey, and shew themselves opposite to
our Covenant and Reformation.
Act Sess. 17. August 9. 1641.
_Act against unlawfull Bands._
The Assembly 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 Assembly 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 Assembly 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 Assembly 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 Assemblie._
_Right Reverend and dear Brethren, now conveened in this Generall
Assembly,_
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 God) 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 Assembly) a
difference of great concernment, which you may please (in brief) thus to
understand. Almighty God 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
Classes, 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 God, 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 Assemblies 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 Assembly, 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 Assembly, witnessing your
Christian love, and rejoycing with us in God 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 fellowship 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 God, 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 God with
us. Neither are we out of hope, but the same God 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 God. 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 God 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 worship, and of doctrine, may come
from the one Kirk to the other, which beside all other reasons make us to
pray to God, 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
worship, 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 God, 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 godly 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 worship; and that we want not our own
feares, that where the hedge of Discipline and Government is different,
the Doctrine and Worship 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 Assemblies, 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 Elderships, 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
Shires and Cities have their own Delegates, is to be held extrinsecal to
any particular Shire or City.
Our unanimous judgement and uniforme practice, is, that according to the
order of the Reformed Kirks, and the ordinance of God 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 God, 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 God, is so full and perfect, that all the Members of this Assembly have
declared themselves to be of one heart, and of one soule, and to be no
lesse perswaded, that it is of God, then that Episcopal government is of
men; resolving by the grace of God, to hold the same constantly all the
dayes of our life, and heartily wishing that God 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 Assemblies 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 God 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 Assembly 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 Assembly, 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 Assembly, 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 Assembly 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 Assembly, as the Commissioners of the General Assembly of
_Scotland_, from the Scots Kirk at _Campheir_.
-------------------------------------
_The Assembly appoints the next General Assembly to be holden at_ St.
Andrews, _the last Wednesday of_ July _next_, 1642.