flattery. The true reformed religion abhorres disobedience, and gives
to Cæsar that which is Cæsars: and sure we professe a harmles religion.
I would exhort you to it, 2 Kings, 1, To the course of faith which
abhorres godlesnes and vaine conceipts of men. I am now pleading
for the innocencie of religion. Ye know what our adversaries have
printed against us; that we are guiltie of many crymes and trickes,
and that we have made people to fayne themselves inspired with the
spirit of divination, which is against Gods trueth. The second thing
is the course of obedience. There was never a greater friend to Kings
then Christ. There is no question now about Juda of Gallilees part,
whether we should pay tax or not; neither of that inward reverence to
princes, or that respect we carry to him. I wishe his owne prayers were
never heard that doeth not heartillie pray for his Majestie. But the
question is, What is his part in religion and matters ecclesiasticall?
It is both said and printed, that I should have spocken much that
my fellow-brethren and the rest of the Covenanters would not allow
of. First, I said and say, that Royall inspection belongs to Kings
over Kirk matters, and that the King was supreme Bischop of all this
Kingdome. Now, my adversarie thinkes I made him a Kirkman. I am
ignorant, but not so. As for the head of the Kirk we acknowledge none
but Christ; and for the other, _Episcopus_ is a name that is als weill
propper to a civile magistrat as spiritual: Therefore Constantine
saith, _vos estis Episcopi intra, ego extra_. Nixt, that he is _custos
utriusque tabulæ_. Vindication belongs unto him who carries the sword
of sanction and coerction and convocation of Synods, as now this
present Generall Assembly is conveined; and as he conveines, soe its
said, examines them. If he find anything against the word of God, he
should reject it. Thus I speake not of a negative voice his Majestie
hath. And now I have shewen yow the particulars I have beine taxed
upon, hoping this honourable Assembly will farther consider of it;
and now I come to speake ane word to your Commissioners Grace who
represents his Majestie.
(The speache to the Commissioners Grace, which is the conclusion of the
sermon.)
As for your Grace his Majesties Commissioner, we beseech yow to see
that Cæsar have his owne; but let not Cæsar have what is due to God
and belongs to him. God hes exalted your Grace to many high places
within these few yeares, and more especiallie now. Be thankfull, and
labour to exalt Christs throne. Some are exalted like Haman—some like
Mordicai. And I pray God these good pairts the Lord hes endued yow
withall, yow may use them aright, as the Israelites, when they came
out of Egypt, did give all their silver and gold for building of the
tabernacle. I tell your Grace yow must be comptable for all your
actions, especiallie in these publict bussinesses. And to yow, right
honourable and right worshipfull members of this Assembly, goe on in
your zeale constantlie. Surelie it shall be refreshment to yow and your
children, that yow should have lived when the light of the Gospell was
almost extinguished, and now to see it quickened againe.
After all these troubles, with a holy moderation, goe on; for zeale is
a good servant but ane ill master; like a schippe that hes a full saill
and wants a ruther.
We have need of Christian prudence; for ye know what ill speeches owr
adversaries have made upon us. Let it be seene to his Majestie, that
this governement can very weill stand with a monarchical governement.
Hereby we shall gaine his Majesties favour, and God shall get the
glorie; to whom be praise for ever and ever.—AMEN.
FINIS.
_The Proceedings of the late Solemne Assembly, holden at Edinburgh 12
of August 1639._
Mr Alexʳ Hendersones Speache.
Surely so many of us as consider any thing of the wayes of God toward
us, and the conscience of our owne guiltinesse, may verily say, its of
the mercies of God that we are not consumed: ffor we deserve no lesse
than that. The Lord had mercie on us, and brought us ance togither
before, after many defections and grosse backslydings, and vouchsafed
the testimony of his divine presence very sensiblie upon us, which
should never be forgotten of us whilst we live. This is another mercie
that the Lord hath been pleased, after so many troubles and tempests,
hazarding all church and kingdome, familie, persone, and estates, that
he should grant us this calme and comfortable day to meete in, and that
we have his libertie, under the protection of our sacred Soveraigne,
the Kings Majestie. And now when we are assembled together, and hath
all thinges externall in libertie and freedome, without any apparent
danger for ought that we know, is there no more adoe? Yea truelie:
though all the worthiest of this kingdome were here assembled, (as I
thinke a great pairt of them be,) yet if the Lord do not vouchsafe his
presence upon us, our meeting shall be in vaine, and better it had
beene for us not to have mett. Therefore let us request the Lord to
remove these illes farre from us, that hath deserved he should desert
us; and that he may looke comfortablie upon us, and that our soules may
rejoyce in his presence, we may have matter of praise to render to him,
and matter of comfort to our soules and the establishment of peace to
this kirk and kingdome.
After in calling upon the name of God, the Moderatour desyred these
that were authorized with commissions from Presbyteries, Universities,
and other incorporations, to produce the same.
John, Earle of Traquair, Commissioner for the Kings Majestie.
The name of the Commissioners from Presbitries, Burghes, and
Universities, as followes, &c. [Not inserted in M.S.]
After the production of the several commissions, the Kings Commissioner
desyred that the tyme of their meeting might be condiscendit upon; and
whether it were convenient to have two sessions a day or not?
It was thought expedient to meete tomorrow at ten o’clocke, and that
tomorrow there should be but one sessione, and thereafter to be taken
to the Assemblies consideration, if convenientlie two sessions could be
keipt.
Mr John Robertsone, and Mr Robert Murray appoynted to nominat some
ministers to preache all the weake, and to give their names tomorrow.
Sess. 2.—_Hora Decima._
August 13, 1639.
After in calling upon the name of God, the Kings Majesties Commissioner
produced the Commission, which being red in face of the Assembly, the
Commissioner his Grace desyred it might be insert in the Bookes of the
Assembly, the tenor whereof followeth—“Carolus, Dei Gratia,” &c.
The Commissioners Grace declaired, that howsoever there was in him
great weaknes and insufficiencie for so weightie a charge, yet he hoped
that he should make knowen unto the Assembly his Majesties grace and
goodnes in that ingenuous way as should give satisfactione to all, and
that not in a superficiall and complimentary way; but since his Master
had honoured him so farre, he desyred that (though his weaknes, for
want of experience, might make him sometymes silent when it was fitting
to speake, and other tymes to speake out of purpos,) the goodnes and
wisdome of the reverend members might supplie his inlakes.
The Moderatour answered—There is none of us can bragg of our
experience, becaus of the want of Assemblies this long tyme agoe; but
we hope within twenty yeares our experience shall be greater.
Moderatour said—Please your Grace, the antient and laudable custome
of Assemblies hath beene, that he that was Moderatour of the last
Assemblie should propose a list of names, of the which number a new
Moderatour may be chosen.
The Commissioner answered—I perceive no prejudice in that forme, since
ye allow that if my Master have anything to say against these or to add
to them.
The Moderatour craved libertie before the list was red to preface thus
much—that since it was not possible to put all the worthies that were
present on a list, therefore no man would take any offence.
_The List of the Names for a Moderatour._
Mr Wᵐ Livingstoun,
Mr David Dick,[232]
Mr James Bonar,
Mr Andro Cant,
Mr Alexander Somervell.
The Moderatour asked the Commissioner, if his Grace had any thing to
except against these, or if his Grace had any other whom he would adde
to them?
The Commissioner answered—I have so charitable, yea, so Christian an
opinion, that I believe none can come heir but with the intention and
resolution that yow have so often expressed, looking to nothing but to
Gods glorie and next to the Kings honour. Not that I have prejudice
against any that are here—surely none—but considering my Masters
directions are so faire and so plaine, that I believe, as he intends
nothing but settleing of trueth and freeing us of feares that we might
be possessed with, either for novation in religion or lawes: so I
believe, yea I expect and am confident, that everie man that comes heir
resolves to carry himselfe with that integritie as in the eyes of God,
to whom they must make answer; and as standing to doe that duetie which
in the second parte belongs to our graceous Soveraigne: for myselfe, I
may know some men by acquaintance, and thereupon may have opinion; but
I attest God I have no prejudice against these on the list, nor any
that are here; yet I desire that yow yourselfe Moderatour may be both
added to the list and may be Moderatour still; and this I desire for no
other end but because I believe it may contribute much to the worke in
hand. Howsoever, I submitt myselfe to the judgement of the rest.
The Moderatour answered—If your Grace had continowed in the last
Assemblie, your Grace might have seene as much of my weaknes made
manifest at that tyme as should have beene a sufficient prevention of
listing me at this tyme. I trust I shall not neid to speake much. I
have enough if I be prest with it, whereby I shall make it manifest to
this whole meeting, that I cannot be continowed in this place.
The Commissioner said—I doe insist in this for no other end truelie but
that I have alreadie said. Since I am requyred to delyver my opinion,
I may doe it upon my knowledge; and I doubt nothing but if the gifts
and worthe of many reverend men who are here were knowen unto me, but
it might be I should voice with them; but truely, by my insisting for
this, I feir I wrang the end I goe about, and I know not weill how to
expresse myselfe in it, and safe myselfe from seeming to give ground of
feires of that I seeke to eschue, to witt, that I am free of prejudice.
Alwayes I name the Moderatour for no other end (as God shall save me)
but becaus I thinke him both ane honest man and ane able man, and I
thinke this doeth nather establische a constancie of Moderatours nor
open a doore to it; for though our Judgments doe now find yow to be the
man whom we inclyne to, yet since it is not the freedome of voiceing, I
thinke yow have no more interest in it then any upon the list; and if I
now urging this as a priviledge due to my Master, or if I were urging
that my nominating of ane should make the Moderatour, it were much; but
let everie Member of the Assemblie consider of it, and of everie readie
way to facilitat this matter in hand; for if I knew any man so able to
supplie that roume as the Moderatour, certainlie I should name him.
The Moderatour answered—By your Graces Speache, some may take great
advantage to thinke that your Grace doeth contradict his Majesties late
Declaration;[233] becaus its said there, yow may verie well judge what
could be wiselie done in that Assembly when they had such an ignorant
Moderatour: and now your Grace giving me such a large testimonie, doeth
directlie contradict his Majesties printed Declaration. But I correct
myselfe. I trust it shall be found not to be his Majesties Declaration.
The Commissioner answered this with silence.
The Moderatour after added—We have great reason to blesse our God and
to give humble and heartie thankes to the Kings Majestie for this
peaceable and free Assemblie; but we have so many jealousies upon the
Usurpation of the Prelats in tyme past, that in trueth at the very
first we scarre and are so affrayed, that we darre not meddle with any
thing of that kynd. It savours of a constant Moderatour—the first step
of Episcopacie; and, in trueth, I have not a mynd to be a Bishop.
Ye might have bein ane.
It was questioned if the former Moderatour could be ane in the new list?
Mr John Row said he had seene Assemblies this 5O yeares, and, to his
judgement, he never saw it that the Moderatour of the former Assemblie
was put on the list with these that were to be Moderatour the next
Assemblie; nevertheless, it was instanced out of the Assemblie Bookes,
that the same Moderatour have been sometymes continued Moderatour of
the next Assemblie.
It was condescendit upon that Mr Alexʳ Hendersone should be added to
the list. The list was read and the rolles called, and Mr David Dick
was chosen Moderatour by the farr greatest part of the voices, who
after the acknowledgement of his owne weaknes imbraced the office;
and having a calling from God and the honourable Assembly. Mr Alexʳ
Henrysone, randering most heartie thankes to the Assemblie for their
charitable construction of his weaknes, and wishing that no man should
faygne any abilitie unto himselfe, dimitted his place.
_Mr David Dick, Moderatour, his Speach._
The Moderatour, at his first entrie to the place, had this preface.
This is more than we durst have craved of God, if we had looked to our
oune deserving; but since it hath beene His Majesties pleasure who
rules heaven and earth, to looke upon our Gracious King; and move his
heart to grant this freedome, we have reasone all of us to acknowledge
Gods mercie to his Majestie and to us, and to acknowledge his Majesties
goodnes, and to make verie welcome your Grace who is to represent
his Majestie; and I trust this Assembly will allow me verie weill to
give thankes to the Moderatour who served in this roume last, who,
whatsoever you thought or said, God magnified himselfe in yow, and made
your honestie and the caus in your hand cleare to many; and to those
to whom ye were most calumniat, so that both the Kings Commissioner
and Councell have seene that yow have beene seeking God onlie, and no
other thing—and the Lord bless yow! Now, as the Commissioner spacke
verie fitlie that jealousies and suspitions would be farr away,
becaus they are contrare to the designes professed by His Majestie,
and whereof we have this evidence; and contrare to the designes of ws
ministers, who ought to be ministers of peace, ayming at nothing but
Gods glorie and the weill of his Church: Therefore let us labour by
all meanes to get owr hearts single; becaus in so doing owr God will
helpe us. And first, to thinke of overtures, how we may extirpat all
grounds of suspition and jealousie which might be in brethrens hearts,
becaus of the differences of judgments about the discipline of the
Church, and that ceremonies that she has beene troubled with, may be
turned in perpetuall oblivion. And seeing there is in us ane mynd and
heart toward God and peace, let us think upon some overtures, how we
may open the bosome of this Kirk to all these who are penitent, or in
any measure sensible of their misdeservings, (no these who deserves
most expected, if the Lord gives them repentance), seeing we are these
who professed ourselves to be men seeking God, trueth, and peace. Yea
thirdlie, let us give evidence that we are single hearted toward these
that are of a contrare religion, and that we have no mynd to insnare
them, or handle them so as their owne consciences, upon their owne
grounds could say, considering our rules, but rather how we shall get
them informed of their scruples, heard, attendit, and waited upon, and
by all meanes their mynds brought to this poynt of conviction that
they know nothing but God and their owne salvation, and all in a very
moderat maner.
_The Tryell of the Commissions._
After this the Assembly proceidit to the tryell and examination of the
Commissions; and the Moderatour desyred that if the Commissioner his
Grace, or any Member of the Assembly had anything to object against
the validitie or formalitie of the Commissions, that they would make
declaration of the same.
[Commissioner] answered—I believe I shall be glad that there shall
be few contrare opinions—yea, few contests anent the election of
Commissioners at this tyme, and such is my gracious Masters desyre to
have everie thing caried in a fair, calm, and peaceable way at this
Assembly; for all his commands runnes thus, that in anything that
should concerne him, I should give good example and begin, so that
though I might object severall informalities, yet so desyrous is our
Master of peace, that I only remonstrat it to yow to take it to your
consideration. And for me, surely it shall be a very great informalitie
which shall make me interrupt so good a worke.
The Moderatour said—We are glad to heare from your Grace expressions
of peaceable intentions; yet becaus something of that kinde may reflex
upon our proceeding, therefore we should be glad to heare your Grace
name these exceptions; for we desyre not to be pardoned in a thing
wherein we may be mended; if there be reason to approve them, let them
be approven; and if there be reason to cast them, let them be casten.
The Commissioner said—I conceave there are grounds to cast
elections—as, for example, I conceave that, in the choosing of
Commissioners from Presbitries or Presbitrie, if it appeare that there
have been moe Lay Elders then Ministers, I should not think it formall.
Secondlie, if there be a Commissioner chosen where he never had his
residence, and, consequentlie, where he is not ane Elder, I thinke
it not formall. Thirdly, if any man be chosen Lay Elder, and yet not
chosen Commissioner from that place where he is Elder, I think it not
formall. Fourthlie, if a man be chosen laick Elder in ane place, and
after reside in another place and be chosen there, I thinke that not
formall. Fifthlie, if a man be a rebell and at the Kings horne, I
cannot thinke his electione formall. These and many other of this kynde
doe I represent unto your consideratione.
The Moderatour answered—Please your Grace: It wer a spending of lang
tyme to dispute the question in generall. But if it please your Grace,
either by yourselfe or by any other, to nominat these Commissioners
against whom the exception is, and in their persone to dispute the
question, and so either admit them upon reason or reject them upon
reason; ffor we professe we will tollerat no man against whom there
is a just exception wherefore he should not heare be a Commissioner:
therefore, when it comes to the particular, let the exception be
nominat, and it shall be purged some way or els the man removed:
therefore, if there be any within this house who hes any thing to
object against the formalitie of the election of Commissioners, let
them declair the same; utherwayes we will hold our silence for ane
approbation of all.
After the Commissioners wer approven by the whole Assembly,
The Moderatour said—The Assemblie is now constitut and the Members
found perfyte: The Lord give a blessing unto it! Therefore, if your
Grace have any thing to say, it is now a fullie constitut Assembly, and
the Judicatorie sett.
The Commissioner answered—I did not expect so great expedition; but I
am glad that yow take to your wise consideration all meanes that may
facilitat so good a worke; and since, as I was saying, in generall I am
to communicat his Majesties mynd to this Assembly, which I hope shall
give satisfactione to all, I must first communicat to some in privat,
that so it may be the better digested for publict audience; therefore I
desire that any thing materiall may be forborne this day, and that if
there be any matter of lesse importance, they may now be dispatched. To
the which the Assembly acquiesced.
The Moderatour craved, that, in respect he was put upon the toppe of
the bussinesse, and made the mouthe of the Assembly, that whatsoever
might contribute to the good of the worke, they would not only all be
willing in generall but in speciall, to communicat to his assistance
as a servant of the house, and, for that end, that libertie might
be granted to him to joyne some assessours to himselfe, as, namely,
the Earles Argyle, Rothes, Eglintoun, Montrois, my Lord Lowdoun:
Ministers—Mr Alexʳ Henrysone, Androw Ramsay, Harry Rollock, John Ker,
David Lindsay, Robert Douglas, William Livingstone: Commissioners or
laick Elders—the Lairds of Haughtone, Moncreiff, Auldbarre, Wedderburne.
This was refeused to be past in Act; but the Assembly granted to the
Moderatour to crave their assistance in privat, with the Commissioner
his Graces consent.
The Assembly, for the greater facilitating of bussines, did appoynt
a Commission for receaving of Billes that were to be given in to the
Assembly, namely: Ministers—Masters David Lindsay, Robert Douglas,
Andro Fleck, William Jamesone, Frederick Carmichell, David Monro,
George Leslie: Elders—the Earle of Cassilles, my Lord Burlie, my Lord
Johnstoun, Lairds of Fentrie, Keir, Dundas, Provest of Dumbartoun.
Item, another Commission for reportes of references from the last
Assembly: Ministers—Mr John Robertsone, Robert Murrey, James
Edmestoune, Alexʳ Petrie, Thomas Mitchell, &c.
The Assembly, with consent of the Commissioners Grace, did condescend,
becaus of the shortnes of tyme betwixt and the ensuing Parliament, that
there should be two Sessions a day—the first at 9 a clock—the second at
3 a clock in the afternoone, and the sermon to goe in at 7 a clock in
the morning.
Sessio 3.—August 14, 1639.
After in calling upon the name of God, the Moderatour asked the
Commissioner if his Grace had any thing to say to this Assembly?
The Commissioner answered—I am sory to say any thing that may breed
jealousie—farre lesse miscontent in any mans mynd: yet I must say that
agane which I said yesterday in generall; and I desire that everie
bodie that heares me, and in particular the honourable and reverend
Members of this Assembly, may believe that what I doe in this kinde,
is not out of a intention to delay or protract tyme; but surelie the
great and weightie charge I am entrusted with,—secondlie, the short
tyme I have had to consider of the instructiones given to me of my
Master,—thirdly, the sense of my oune weaknes; and I may adde a
fourth—some distemper of my bodie—that I must begg the allowance of
this day—not for any delay or protracting of tyme, but that, after
mature consideration on all hands, we may all sing ane sang before this
Assemblie end; and, having obtained this short tyme for consideration
of my instructions, I must then begg a second favour, that the
Moderatour, and some other with him, may spend some tyme with me this
afternoone, that so thinges may be the better digested, and I more able
to give satisfaction in everie thing that can be expected.
The Moderatour said—My Lord Commissioners Grace gives us to understand
that the Kings mynd is peace toward this Church, and least we should
speake and not understand one another, and stumble in the entrie of
this bussines, his Grace requyres that this day may be given for
consideration of the instructions receaved from His Majestie, and that
some of this number that ye thinke good, with me may attend his Grace,
that one of us mistake not anothers language; and it shall be our
pairt to deall with God to show we a right way, that fra there is ane
ayme at peace we may follow the best way for attaining of it, and for
preservation of it heirafter: for if our way be good as weell as our
matter, it can bring no miscontent: but if we marr in either, we may
breid much. Therefore, let us suspend our judgments in every thing our
mynd might have thoughts about; for this is a tender bussinesse; and
it shall be our wisdome to suspend our judgments till every particular
speake for itself; and since on all hands we professe peace, so let
every mans particular cariage declair the same: so shall trueth and
peace and every mans particular cariage get the oune true approbation.
The Commissioner said—I believe it is scairse expected from me that I
should adde to or confirme that which ye have said, seeing its propper
for yow to speake. Your place carries yow to it, and your gifts gives
yow abilitie for it. The place I am in is to heare and doe that duetie
which is to be expected from a gracious Prince. Yet I may say thus
much without wronging any trust my Master hath put upon me, to second
that yow have said—to witt—if men come without prejudicat mynds—if men
come impartiall, with a mynd to acquiesce to reason when reason shall
be offered, and to imbrace trueth when the way of trueth is layd open
with the soundnes of mynd, and with that reverence and respect which
may be expected from good Christians and good subjects, and which
their oune place will beare to soveraignitie and lesse then which can
never be expected from good subjects: I say if men come so, I hope the
conclusion may be beyond the expectation of us all, and beyond the
desyre of some that all shall tend to peace, and such a peace as hes
trueth for the companion of it, against to-morrow.
The Moderatour asked the opinion of some of the Members of the
Assemblie, whether the Commissioner his Grace his desire was most
reasonable?