to Ministers what to doe first when they goe home. For this end,
Presbitries must have ane extract of some Acts shortlie; and becaus
there is a declaration of the Confession of Faith to be red, it wer
good it wer intimat in all pulpits, as lykewayes thir things that
are concludit in Assemblie concerning Episcopacie, the 5 Articles of
Perth, the Service Booke, Booke of Cannons, Booke of Ordination, High
Commission, and the Sentence against the Prelats, to intimat, that
people may ken who are excommunicat, and who not.
Then there was red two Acts, which wer put in forme: the ane commanding
the Covenant to be subscryvit be all Masters of Universities,
Colledges, and Schools, and all uthers who have not alreadie subscryvit
the same, with these words prefixed before their subscription; ane
uther Act, discharging all subscription to the Covenant lately urged by
his Majesties Commissioner.
After the calling the rolles, the whole Assemblie most unanimouslie
allowed both these Acts.
Moderatour said—There is a motion made concerning thanksgiving to be
keeped when ye goe home to your particular congregations; and truelie,
considering our evil deservings, and what the Lord hes done to us for
meir favour, we have no lesse nor great reason to acknowledge it, both
publicity in our congregations, and privatelie in our families, and to
delyte in the honour of God, and make frequent commemoration of it at
the first convenient occasion after ye returne to your Presbitries and
paroches; and I trust it shall be acceptable unto God, and give no just
occasion of offence.
The Assemblie allowes this Article, and ordaines Ministers to make
intimation in their pulpits of the conclusion of this Assemblie,
the first Sabbath efter their returne home, and desyre their people
to prepaire themselfes against the next Sabbath thereafter, not for
carnall festivitie, but for a humble thanksgiving.
The Assemblie ordaines the Presbitries to proceid against those who
subscryvit the declinatour, and all uthers who will not acknowledge the
Assembly, with the censures of the Kirk; and becaus there are some of
this sort about Aberdein that their voits will be moe in Presbitries,
the Assembly ordaines them to be called before the Commission at
Aberdein.
Lykewayes the Assembly ordaines the Moderatour and Clerk to give out
summonds upon relevant complaints of parties before the next Generall
Assembly, becaus the tyme could not be weill condiscendit upon. The
rolles were called, and most parte of the Assembly voited that the
third Wednesday of Jullii, the next Generall Assemblie should sitt at
Edinburgh; and if the Kings Majestie be pleased to indict a Generall
Assemblie, either before or efter this tyme, the Assemblie declaires
that it was good reason his Majesties tyme wer waited on.
Then the Commissioners of Sᵗ Androwes presented their supplication for
the tranportation of Mr Robert Blair from Air to Sᵗ Androwes; and,
efter many contestations betwixt the Commissioners of Sᵗ Androwes, my
Lord Lindsey, Provest of Air, and uthers, the mater was put to voiting,
and there was no great difference amongst the voites, except only 4 or
5 moe that voited for Sᵗ Androwes nor for Air: quharefore,
The Moderatour, in name of the Assemblie, ordained him to goe to Sᵗ
Androwes.
Lykewayes, the Commissioner of Aberdein did supplicat for the
transportation of Mr Samuell Rutherfuird from Anweth, in Galloway, to
be Professor of Divinitie in the new Colledge of Aberdene.
Mr Samuell said—My ministrie and the exercise of it is subject in the
Lord to this Honourable Assemblie. But I trust in God this Assemblie
will never take from me my pastorall charge; for there is a woe unto
me if I preach not the Gospell, and I know not who can goe betwixt me
and that woe. If I doe not preach the Gospell, I verilie thinke the
High Commission did not nor could not doe no worse nor that unto me;
and therefore, he desyrit if there were any such thing as that in their
mynds, they would not intertaine such thoughts; for he said he would be
content to suffer prisonment, banishment, &c., but never lay downe his
ministerie.
The Moderatour answered—He was glad that his reasons were so weake; and
after much reasoning to and fro, it was referred to the Commission at
Edinʳ.
The Moderatour asked of the Assembly if there were any other particular
to be remembred, or if any man had any motion to propone, or any
further to say, since this was the last Session, and they were now
this night to ryse and goe home to their churches? The Assemblie
being silent, and all matters considerable being now discussed, the
Moderatour uttered these speaches as followes:—
* * * * *
_The Moderatour, his last speach, directed to the Assembly immediatlie
before the dissolution thereof._
I think there be none heir that expects any discourse of me worthie
the taking up the tyme appointed for so great effaires as hes bein
heir, or of such Noble, prudent, learned, and wise eares as heares
me. Only I will say two things concerning my selfe—one is, that the
evill that I would have schunned is come upon me; for I did not
apprehend it, neither can I call it absolutelie an evil, becaus there
are good in it, and, I am sure, God hes done good by it. But this I
say—I would have schunned it, partlie becaus of that bashfulnes which
I fand in my selfe, and partlie becaus of my unwillingnes to make my
weaknes and infirmities knowne to the world; but ye see, contrare to
my disposition and resolution, I have bein chargit to take on this
charge, quhich I have borne thir dayes bygone, and I doe crave pardon
of the God of Heaven and of this honourable Assembly, of the faults
that hes escaped me since I tooke it on, quhich I know are manyfold.
This is ane thing concerning myselfe: the uther concerning myselfe is
this—That I observe the beginnings and closeings of the worke of God
to be very answerable. The beginnings were very weake—by very weake
instruments—and so hes the conclusions beene, by reason of my weaknes,
who have bein imployd in it; and this is, that the Lord may get the
glorie that belongs to him of his own power.
But what shall I say? That I have bein ane Instrument, nay ye
yourselves have bein instruments raised by God. By your pietie,
prudence, and paines, the Lord hes brought this worke to passe; and
I cannot say but all sortes have bein verie diligent and faithfull,
zealous, and stranglie assisted by God in every poynt committed to
them—in trueth to my admiration.
Ye must not rest upon yourselves, but ascend higher, and looke to these
worthie Noblemen who have beine cheefe instruments in this work, and
how it has pleased the Lord to move their hearts, contrare to their
place—being subject to many temptations—and contrare to the age of
some of them, to attend thir effaires quherin is not much worldlie
bewtie or contentment; yea ye know what paines and hazard they have
undergone—yea, what charges—altho’ I will not mention so fecklesse a
mater, for if I should, I would wrong their pious resolution.
Yet ye must not stint your mynds heir; for, if ye doe, ye wrong them
by giving them more nor due, and so doe prejudice to the honour of the
Majesty of our God; and therefore to ascend higher, I pray, from the
meanest instruments that is heir, of Nobles, of Barons, of Ministers,
of Elders—goe forward and consider of the Kings Majesties goodnes
toward us; for ye know this Assembly was indicted be his Majesties
auctoritie, and that his Majesties High Commissioner was heir till it
was fullie constitut; and let us take this as a great favour from the
Kings Majestie and his Commissioner; and let us stirre up our hearts to
pray to God for his Majesties long prosperous reigne over us.
But we must not rest upon the King, but ascend yet higher unto God
himselfe, and give him his owne praise; and surelie the name of our
God is worthie of all praise; for he has raised us out of the deipes
of the earth; he has raised us from the dead, and exalted us very far.
The yondest of our wishes was to have bein at our first reformation;
and now, in his graceous dispensation, their measures are restoired to
us; and, if it be not so, let us blame ourselves; for yee see how the
Lord, in his providence, hes given us the occasioun and opportunitie,
that all things may be done in the hous of God, according to our
former integritie, and which, I trust, I am assured, is according to
the will of God. What shall I intreat yow, honorable, reverend, and
weill-beloved, to doe, but, first, to consider the great and singular
kyndnes—the inestimable favour and love of our Lord Jesus Christ,
towards us all, the children of men, redeemed by his blood—that he
so loved us, from all Eternitie, that he gave himself to so painfull
sufferings, and schamefull sufferings, to purchase the Holy Spirit unto
us? And truelie poore Scotland, but rich in respect of the Gospell, may
say, that the Lord hes loved us; yea there was never such a love heard
tell of as he has borne to us.
Next I would have yow to consider—and I put no question but ye have
considerit it—the goodnes of the Lord our God, and his great bountie
toward us in this great worke, which now, ecclesiasticalie, is brought
to a kynd of conclusion. Remember ye not that our adversaries were
at a verie great height of pride? Remember ye not that they prydit
themselves in auctoritie, and in their prudence and policie; and if
there were any name of learning in the land, they would faine have had
it appearing on their syde to be a terrour to ws, whom they thought
sillie, poore, ignorant saules, besyde them? And how our sun was almost
sett at noone—and we would surelie have died in darknes—except the Lord
had appeared and made his light to shyne?
Next, beloved, I would have yow to consider how small the beginnings
were, yea, both small, weake, and obscure; and so soone as the Lord
toutched the hearts of men of all rankes, from the highest to the
lowest of the countrey, and how sensiblie the Lord wrought with
many a saule, what light filled their mynds, and what heat filled
their hearts! For many old men who wer friezing for cold for want of
devotion, they found yet their hearts glowing with the heat that was
breaking upon them, at the renewing of that Covenant, and we found the
documents of his presence at all our Meetings; for howbeit there were
thousands mett together many tymes, there were nothing but quyetnes
and peace: and surelie our adversaries themselves have contributed to
our conclusions, (thanks be to the Lord that rules all the actiones of
men!) for they have wrought more for our ends nor our owne prudence
hes done. When our courses failed us, their courses promoved our
intentions; and this is the extraordinarie Providence that workes, not
only by meanes, but without meanes, and contrare to meanes—contrare
to their malicious intentions and purposes that are against ws. And
should not we, beloved, remember with thankfulnes the beginnings—these
glorious beginnings of reformation in this land—greater pietie—more
religious exercises—greater sobrietie, chastitie, and care to keep
the bodie from uncleannes—greater care to perform the dewties of
righteousnes—not so much craft, crueltie, oppression, falsehood in the
land, as was before this work began? And, if it be prosequut, it will
appeare to be the worke of God.
But shall we not acknowledge His hand that would have this Assemblie
indicted by auctoritie, and his Majesties Commissioner staying till
it was fullie constitut; and that the Lord should have keiped ws
heir against all sortes of feares quhatsoever; and, being heir, has
keiped us in such a wonderfull unitie, and, I trust, also the light of
veritie? Surelie this should make ws wonder at the goodnes of God; but
especiallie when we consider the comfortable conclusions this Assemblie
hes brought to passe. And now, we are quyte of the Service Booke, which
was a booke of Slaverie and Service indeed; the Booke of Cannons,
which tyed us in spirituall bondage; the Booke of Ordination, which
was a yocke put upon the necks of faithfull Ministers; and the High
Commission, which was a guard to keip us all under that slaverie. All
these evills God hes red us of, and lykewayes of the civill places of
Kirkmen, quhich was the splendour of all these evills; and the Lord hes
led captivitie captive, and made Lords slaves. What should we doe less,
then resolve, first, since the Lord hes granted ws libertie to labour,
to be sensible of it, and take notice of it; for we are like to a man
newlie awaked out of a dreame, or lyke a man that hes lyen lang in the
irons, who, after they are tane off, and he redeemed, he feilles not
his libertie, but thinkes the irons are on him still. So it is with us.
We doe not feill our libertie; therefore it were good for us to studie
to ken the bounds of our liberty wherewith Christ hath sett us free,
and then again to labour earnestlie that we be not more intangled with
the yoke of bondage; for, ye know, in logicks, _a privatione ad habitum
non datur regressus_. [It is] true—in politick places: these that are
great in Court, if once depryved, scarcelie wones to their credit; but
especiallie we know it is true in spirituall things, and yet the Lord,
miraculouslie and extraordinarilie, can give eyes to the blind, give
eares to the deafe, raise the dead; and we find, among ourselves, that
once being, in a manner, depryved, at least run on far in a course of
defection, the Lord hes been pleased to turn to us, and make us turne
to him; but take heid of the second privation—that which depryves
our saules of libertie, and rather endure the greatest extremitie
utherwayes before we be intangled. I grant the Crosse is hard to looke
upon; bot if we get strenth from our Lord, it shall be an easie yoke
and burden. Remember the plague of Laodicea for lukewarmnes, and bewar
of it; for, ye know, the Lord threatens to spew them out of his mouth,
which imports, 1. That he will take delyte in executing judgement upon
us, as a man hes delyte when he empties his oppressed stomack. 2. It
shall have reproach as a man goes with his vomiting to a backsyde. 3.
It imports, that he shall never returne, as a man returnes not to his
vomite. Therefore, 1, let us know our libertie; 2, the esteeme of it
reverentlie; 3, to use it diligentlie.
Then for our thankfulness—I say it becomes us to be thankfull to the
Kings Majestie, under whose peacable protection we have had this
libertie to convine together; and, truelie, I would recommend to yow,
with your permission, two things—the ane is, we would not cease for
any thing is come or can come, or is feared to come, to pray most
ferventlie, and to indure in prayer for our graceous Sovereigne and
King, whom God hes ordained to be our supreme Magistrat, and to pour
out our hearts on his behalfe, that it would please God to blesse him
with all royall blessings. In all our preachings we would be carefull
to recommend his Majestie to the People. We ought, indeed, so to doe;
for it is the Lords will that we doe it; and next unto Christ let him
have the highest place; for howsoever the fifth command be a precept
of the second table, yet it is next unto the first, teaching us, that
next unto our dewtie to God we owe dew reverence to these that are in
places above us: Therefore, when ye heare evills reported, attribute
them not to his Majestie, but to misinformation. Ye that are acquainted
with that storie, Numbers 22, of Balaam and Balack, ye will find that
God spak to Balaam. Balaam minsched it, and what Balaam spak to Balacks
servands they minched it lykewayes; for Balaam said—“The Lord will not
give lieve to goe,” and the servands said, “Balack.” Balaam said—“He
will not come.” So it comes to pas many tymes with true Prophets, that
God will not give us lieve to doe this or that.
But it is said to the King—“This rebellious People will not doe this or
that,” and he cannot understand but what he heares; therefore we should
pray to Him who hes the hearts of Kings into his hand, and the keyes of
all his senses, that he would convey knowledge to his Majesties royall
heart, that he may understand matters aright; and we put no question
but when he understands our proceedings, which hes been with respect to
religion and loyaltie to him, he will think so weill of them, that he
will vouchsafe his approbation and royall ratification to them in his
owne tyme, which God grant.
Then, for these Nobles, Barrons, Burgesses, and others who have
attendit heir, this I may say confidentlie, and from the warrand of the
Word—“These that honour God, God will honour them.” Your Lordships, and
these worthie Gentlemen and Burgesses, who have bein honouring God,
and giving testimony ample of your love to religion this time bygane,
(though I will not excuse your former backslydings,) that, if ye will
goe on, the Lord shall protect you, blesse you, honour you; and your
faith shall be found in the day of the revelation of Jesus Christ, unto
praise, honour, and glorie—that is to say, these that speake evill
of you shall praise you; these that thinkes you foolish now, at that
day shall confesse you were zealous; these that dishonoured you shall
honour you; or, as the word ‘glorie’ imports, that they shall have a
reverend opinion of you; nay, even in this world, your faith, devotion,
and zeale shall be found unto praise, honour, and glorie; and the Lord
shall returne you ane hundreth fold more in this lyfe, and, in the
world to come, lyfe everlasting.
And I must say one word of these Nobles whom Jesus Christ hath
nobilitat indeed, and declaired sensiblie to be worthie of that title
of nobilitie. Ye know they were lyke the tops of the mountaines that
were first discovered in the deludge, which made the little valleyes
hope to be delyvered from it also; and so it came to passe. I remember,
in the eastern countrie, where they worship the sun, a number being
assembled earlie in the morning to that effect, all stryving who shall
sie the sun first, a servand turned his face to the west, and waited
on. The rest thought him a foolish man, and yet he got the first sight
of the sun schyning on the tops of the western mountaines. So, truelie,
he would have bein thought a foolish man that would have looked for
such thinges of our nobilitie; yet the Sun of righteousnesse hes beine
pleased to shyne first upon these mountaines; and long, long may he
shyne upon them, for the comfort of the hilles and refreshing of the
valleyes; and the blessing of God be upon them and their families; and,
we trust, it shall be seene to the generations following.
As for us of the ministry, we have caus to praise the Lord that hes had
such a peacable meetting heir, and that the Lord hes led us on in peace
and trueth; that there hes beine no difference worthie of consideration
amongst us. It is a rare thing to sie such a harmonie; scarce hes the
lyke beene seene in any nationall Assembly.
Last, I must give a word of thanksgiving to this Cittie, wherein we
have had such a comfortable residence, and to the principall Magistrats
of it, who hes heir attendit our meeting, and hes had due cair to
provyde extraordinary commodious seats for us, and we have receaved
very good intertainment in this cittie. The best recompence we can give
to them is, to pray for the blessing of God upon them, and to give them
a tast of our labours by visiting their colledge, and any other thing
that consists in our power, without prejudice to the Kirk of God, that
so the kingdome of Christ may be established among them, and glorie may
dwell in this land.
After which the Moderatour desyred some of the brethren to speak a word
of exhortation.
Mr David Dick said—We know not how shortlie the Lord may call us to
trouble and sufferings for his trueth; for his Majestie hath keeped us
still in suspence all this tyme, and, as he has mingled all our former
steppes with fear, so now he keepes us in the same temper, to the end
our rejoycing might be as it should. But if we will continue to doe as
we have begun, in supplicating our God and our King, and sett our face
toward our Lord, and hold the rule of his Word before our eyes, and
make himselfe our fear and our dread, we neid not to think any thing
els, and acknowledge his sovereigntie over all creatures. This is the
short cutt and perfect rule by which our goings must be ordered; and
if, in this path we meit with harsh troubles, when they are disgeasted
awhile, sweit and solide comfort will be the upshott of them all,
provyding we could wait for patience on our Lord; and becaus, out of
all doubt, the proceedings of the Assembly will be tryed, let us arme
ourselves with the strength of our Lord to defend all our laudable
constitutions, and, withall, bear with pitie the misconstructions of
the world, making use of our liberty, and labouring to walke in a
pure-pointed-out light; wondering at all the passages of our Lords
providence, and admiring the large measure of reformation granted to
this land; rejoycing to see schame and confusion routed on the fall
of Sions adversaries, and sevenfold rendered into their bosome who
slandered our Reformers as not learned and wyse with their zeale:
the contrare quhereof their laudable acts and constitutions makes
manifest. And if this we doe, having now gotten a reformation sett on
foot againe, if we goe on prudentlie, advancing our Lord Jesus, keeping
ourselves from a lordlie denomination; both Ministers and Ruling Elders
knowing their duties; and everie ane seiking the helpe and assistance
of ane uther; that as the hands cannot say to the feete, nor the feete
to the hands, “we have no neid of yow,” so we may all, as members of
ane bodie, studie to advance our Lord and his honour; and, if we will
studie to repent for the wronges God hes gotten in this land, and
studie for a thorough reformation of ourselfes, our people, and our
families; then it shall come to passe, that the blessing of God shall
be upon ourselfes, our callings, and laboures, and our posteritie, and
we shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger.
Then Mr Andro Ramsay, being called on to speake next, said—Among all
the pairts of Gods worship, I acknowledge none more acceptable to God
than thanksgiving; and it becomes us verie weill to be thankfull, if
we regaird, first, the beginning; secondly, the progresse; thirdlie,
the happie conclusion of this great worke. First, if we regaird the
beginning which was (1) wonderfull, (2) unexpected, and (3) powerfull.
First it was wonderfull, in respect that, by a few number of the basest
offscourings in the land, God did begin this worke, that the glorie
might be given to him alone. Secondlie, As it was wonderfull, so it
was unexpected; for scarce ane in all Scotland could have any hope
to see this dayes worke. Thirdlie, It was powerfull; for, before it
begane, religion was dieing, and the breath of it expyreing. But now it
is reviveing; the winter is over and gone; the floures appeare in the
earth; and the tyme of singing of birds is come, and the voice of the
turtle is heard in our land.
Againe, if we will looke to the progresse of this worke, we will see
great matter of thankfulnes; for whatever any intendit for our hurt,
he made it to turne for our good. Third, for the conclusion, 1, If
we respect this frequent meeting we have had; 2, this powerfull and
gracious assistance we have felt; 3, this wonderfull harmonie and
unanimitie that we have had; 4, the happie conclusion that we see now
with our eyes: In all thir respects we have great reason to praise God.