_For the Right Reverend the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of_ Scotland.
_The Letter from the Synode of Divines in_ England, _to the Generall
Assembly._
_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 GOD 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 God, _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
Assemblies: Another, bearing date the 24. of January 1643. Concerneth
Congregationall Elderships, and Classicall 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 Assembly, 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
assure 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 passed in both the
Honourable Houses of Parliament; which we hope will be to the joy and
comfort of all our godly 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
Assembly (when it shall also passe 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 assistance and great
furtherance of your Reverend Commissioners in this great Work; which now,
through GODS 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 God, in a method of our own; without resting upon any particular
modell or frame whatsoever already constituted: 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 passed 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 GOD, and the comfort and rejoycing of the
hearts of all _the Israel of God_: 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 bloody 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 breasts 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 Assembly,_
William Twisse, _Prolocutor_.
Cornelius Burges, _Assessor_.
John White, _Assessor_.
Henry Robrough, _Scriba_.
Adoniram Byfield, _Scriba_.