_May it please your Majesty,_
Your Gracious Letter, Direct to the Ministers and Elders met here, in the
General Assembly of the Church of _Scotland_ was Read and Heard among Us,
with all Joy and Thankfulness, that the Rising and Shining again of the
Royal Favour, upon this long Afflicted and distressed Church, could
possibly Inspire: For as Your Majesties Concern for the Good of this Your
Ancient Kingdom, hath indeed been such, as nothing can impair the Happy
State whereunto You have Restored it, save the want of the due sense and
understanding of so great a Mercy; So We doe most heartily acknowledge,
that through Your Majesties Care and Kindness, the Church of Christ
therein, doth equally partake of the same Blessing. It was the sad
Confusions, that differences as to the Government of the Church, had
caused in this Nation, that according to Your Majesties first Declaration,
for our Relief, moved our Gracious God, to Raise up and Prosper You, to Be
our Glorious Deliverer, for Effectuating the Reestablishment that we now
enjoy: So that we are perswaded, that it is not more Agreeable, to the
Inclinations and Conscientious Perswasions of all within this Kingdom, who
are best Affected to Your Majesties Person and Government, than it is
acceptable to God, and will be Your Majesties perpetual Peace and
Satisfaction. Nor are we less Sensible of the particular Regard, Your
Majestie professeth towards us, on this occasion, in Countenancing this
Assembly, with Your Authority, and a Representative of Your Royal Person;
for which we most humbly acknowledge Your Gracious Favour; especially that
it hath pleased Your Majesty, to fix Your Choice, upon a Person so well
Qualified, and so acceptable to Us. And now, _Great Sir_, after so many
and so great Mercies and Favours, Received from God and Your Majesty; We
Hope we may with Confidence assure You, that our Managment shall be such,
as Your Majesty hath so just Reason to expect, and shall never give you
cause to Repent of what You have done for Us. The God of Love, the Prince
of Peace, with all the Providences that have gone over Us, and
Circumstances that We are under, as well as Your Majesties most obliging
Pleasure, Require of Us a Calme and Peaceable Procedure, And if after the
Violence for Conscience sake, that We have Suffered, and so much Detested,
and these Grievious Abuses of Authority, in the late Reigns, Whereby
through some Mens Irregular Passions, We have so sadly Smarted; We our
selves, should Lapse into the same Errours, We should certainly prove the
most Unjust towards God, Foolish towards our Selves, and Ungrate towards
Your Majesty, of all Men on earth. Great Revolutions of this nature, must
be attended, with Occasions of Complaint: And even the worst of Men, are
Ready to cry out of Wrong, for their justest Deservings: But as Your
Majesty Knows these things too well, to give us the least Apprehension of
any impressions evil Report can make; So We assure Your Majesty, as in the
Presence of God, and in expectation of his dreadfull Appearance, that We
shall Study that Moderation, which Your Majesty Recommends, as being
convinced, that it is the Duty that Religion enjoyns, and Neighbouring
Churches doe most justly expect from Us: Desiring in all things, to
Approve our selves unto God, as the true Disciples of Jesus Christ, who,
though most Zealous, against all Corruptions in his Church, was most
Gentle towards the Persons of Men: And to maintain as much as in us lyes,
Peace and Concord with all the Reformed Churches: As likewise to comply in
all obsequious Duty, with all that Your Majesty enjoynes, for the Real
Advantage of true Piety, and the Peace or all Your Kingdoms. Heartily
wishing, that God, who hath Graciously brought back Your Majesties Person,
in Safety, from Your Late, no less Generous, than Dangerous Expedition,
for his Cause and Truth, with joyfull Success; May still preserve Your
Majesty, and Our most Gracious Queen; Granting You long Life, Health, and
Prosperity, And may Establish Your Throne, and Bless Your Government, to
the Glory of His Great Name, the Good of all his Churches, and the welfare
of all Your People. Which shall ever be the earnest Prayer of,
_May it please Your Majesty,_
_ Your Majesties most Faithful,_
_ most Obedient and most Humble Subjects._
Signed in our Presence, in our Name,
and at our Appointment, _By_
_ HU. KENNEDIE_ Moderator.