_May it please Your Majesty._
The Happiness we have had by Your Majesties influence, as an Instrument in
the Hand of God, towards us for good, and the Countenance You have given
us in Holding this National Assembly of the Church of _Scotland_, Doth
Encourage us to make Application again to Your Majesty; That as in our
Answer to Your Gracious Letter direct to us in the Entrance of this
Assembly, we Engaged to Your Majesty that in all things that should come
before us, we would carry with that Calmnes and Moderation, which becometh
the Ministers of the Gospel of Peace, and which Your Majesty did so
effectually Recommend to us; So now in the Close of this our Assembly, we
presume to acquaint Your Majesty, That through the good Hand of God upon
us, we have in a great measure performed accordingly: Having applied our
selves, mostly and especially, to what concerned this whole Church, and
endeavoured by all means Ecclesiastical, and proper for us, to promote the
Good thereof, together with the Quiet of the Kingdom, and Your Majesties
Satisfaction and Contentment. And God hath been pleased to Bless our
Endeavours, in our Receiving to the Unity and Order of this Church, some
who had withdrawn, and now have joyned with us, and promised Subjection:
And in providing for the Propagation of Religion, and the Knowledge of
God, in the most Barbarous places of the _Highlands_, which may be the
surest way of Reducing these people also unto Your Majesties Obedience:
And especially in Regulating the Ministers of this Church, after so great
Revolutions and Alterations: For we have according to the use and practice
of this Church, ever since the first Reformation from Popery, appointed
Visitations both for the Southern and Northern parts of this Kingdom,
Consisting of the Gravest and most Experienced Ministers and Elders: To
whom we have given Instructions about the late Conformists, that none of
them shall be Removed from their Places, but such as are either
Insufficient, or Scandalous, or Erroneous, or Supinely Negligent: And that
these of them be admitted to Ministerial Communion with us, who upon due
Trial, and in a Competent Time for that Trial, shall be found to be
Orthodox in Doctrine, of Competent Abilities, of a Godly, Peaceable, and
Loyal Conversation, and who shall be judged Faithfull to God and to the
Government: And who shall likewayes Promise to own, Submit unto, and
Concurre with it. We have also taken Care, that all persons, who shall be
found to have received wrong, in any Inferior Judicatory of this Church,
shall be duly Redressed: Other things which are not of so Universal a
Concern, we have delayed till the next General Assembly. This Account
Great SIR, we look upon our selves as Obliged to give unto Your Majesty,
for that great Goodness, You have been pleased to express, in giving such
Countenance to this Assembly, and in appointing such Commissioner to
Represent Your Royal Person, who hath been in all his Conduct in this
Affair, most acceptable unto us. That God may Bless Your Majesty, and our
most Gracious Queen, with all Blessings, which concern both this Life, and
the Life to come, is the earnest Prayer of.
_May it please your Majesty,_
_ Your Majesties most Faithful,_
_ Most Humble and most Obedient,_
_ Subjects and Servants._