all to have all this bussines settled in a fair way; and since the
Commissioner his Grace hath given ws good hopes of it, I thinke it were
ane ill interruption of it to refeuse to his Grace any thing of this
kynd.
The Moderatour desired that, if any of the Assembly thought otherwayes,
they would tell their mynd—for we think verilie (said he) that one
dayes good advysement may save us many dayes paines, and the spending
of this day in thinking upon the best meanes how we may wind to our
good ends, may be like money lent out for double annuell. To the which
the Assembly willinglie assented.
Added to the Commission for the Billes—Mr Wᵐ Douglas, Mathow Brisbane,
&c., to meet at the Parliament House at 6 in the morning and 6 at
night: and so the Assemblie dismissed for this dyet.
Sess. 4.
After prayer, the Moderatour asked if the Commissioner, his Grace, had
anything to say to the Assembly.
The Commissioner answered—I was desirous yesterday of a short delay,
that I might the better consider of my Masters instructions; and,
withall, I was desirous that the Moderatour, and some of this reverent
company, might come doune to me, that to yow I might communicat some of
my thoughts, that they may the more plausiblie be convayed to the rest
of this number. This ye were pleased to doe. Some short tyme we spent
together yesterday, and this morning too; and I doubt not, Moderatour,
but since your comming up yow have communicat to some of the rest, and
so I hope this shall facilitat the matter greatlie; and I shall begg
libertie to repeat somewhat in generall of what hes past in privat.
The deploire to the divisions and differences that hath beene in this
Church and Commonwealth are both so weill knowen to ws all that I need
spend no tyme in it. The bad and dangerous consequents that hes beene
likelie to insue—yea I may say, the ruine that hes bein so imminent,
is yet so fresche in your memories that I spair it. It hath pleased
God so to dispose our effaires, and so to prepaire our Masters heart
to hearken to our just desyres, that he hes bein pleased to grant and
to indict this free Assemblie, as the readie meanes to obviat all such
evills in tyme comeing, and to prepaire thinges that there may not be
the like mistake among us heirafter. If I be not mistaken, this was
the occasion of our petitions: the sense we had of bygone illes, and
the fear we had of the consequentes of these illes, and the desire we
had that these feares should be removed, and that, by removing of the
evills and causes thereof. In privat, to these few of this number that
came to me, I was desirous that they would condescend to me what they
conceaved to be the causes of all the divisions of this Church, that
accordingly we might take to our consideration the readiest wayes to
expunge the same, if any such appeared, and to remove them by wholesome
constitutions. Ye were pleased to condiscend upon some, and it may be
others doe thinke upon some that ye have not thought upon. I doe not
take upon me to determine what are the causes; but as my memorie serves
me, and so farr as I can gather out of the Petitions to the Counsell,
the Commissioner, or to His Majestie himselfe, I shall collect my oune
thoughts, and, if possible I passe by some circumstances, if I touche
what is most materiall, I desire yow to helpe it.
The first occasion that made a sense of the subjects, at least a
expression of the sense to appear to the King or Counsell, was a
Service Booke, latelie introduced and pressed, furst upon the Clergie,
and, I thinke, by them to be prest upon the whole subjects. Upon
this there comes petitions from diverse corners of the countrie, and
the numbers of them grew daylie. This was so taken to heart by the
Counsell, that they did acquant their Master with it; but it may be not
in that powerfull way as to make our Master conceave of the bussinesse
as God hath given him grace to consider since, for which cause, the
satisfactorie answer was not given at first which was expected; and so
your desires grew; and, if I be not mistane, the Booke of Cannons was
joyned with it. Yet it ceased not here. We went a litle further, and, I
believe, in generall, there was innovations complained upon—innovations
alledged to be introduced contraire to the constitutions of this
Kirk. The Five Articles and High Commission were complained upon;
and, I believe that it was complained that, even in the governement
of the Kirk, something was introduced that was not according to the
laudable constitution of this Kirk; yea, I believe, first we came to
complaine personallie of the faults of Bishops—as of the hard usage
of Ministers—the unlawfull oathes extracted of intrants, and, I
believe, in end it came to that, that it was presented as a grievance
to the King, and as an occasion of the destraction of the Kirk, that
Episcopacie itselfe was so farre contrare to the constitutions of this
Kirk and Reformation thereof, and, therefore, that not only their
office behooved to be reformed and rectified, but totallie abolished,
and the Kirk restoired to that governement she had at the Reformation,
by free and lawfull Generall Assemblies, or the subjects could not be
satisfied.
It may be my expression hes not bein methodicall and cleare; yet,
bluntlie and orderlie, I think I expresse the most materiall thinges
that the Kings Majestie hath conceaved to be the grievances and desires
of his subjects, by their petitions, papers, and by the Commissioners
Grace; or, utherwayes, I cannot, nor darr not say, if I answer that
trust that my Master hath put upon me, or, if I discharge that duetie,
that in reason he shall expect from me. But his goodnes is such, and
so farr he hath condescendit to satisfie the desires of his good
subjects, as he hath indicted this Generall Assembly, to take to their
consideration the true cause of these illis which he expects they will
doe, and doe it without partiall respects or by ends; so, on the other
pairt, not only to heare of it be evident trueth, and grounded upon
good reason, as the petitions of the subjects seemes to say, he hath
commanded me, not only to heare, but to consent and to concurre with
yow, in everie thing ye shall agrie upon; yea I may say more; for the
more I look upon my instructions they give me warrant to say the more.
That my Master doeth expect, although I came not here to say that there
is another way in ecclesiastic bussinesse then that way which ye have
propounded to him, and of which he hath given satisfaction to others
by mouthe, that he conceives no other way—that we of this Assembly
will, notwithstanding, consider of the distractions of the Kirk, so
far as our auctoritie can doe. For the Service Booke and Cannons, they
are discharged. For the Five Articles and High Commission, in this
his grace and goodness appears very great—for they were established
in his fathers tyme, and continued in his owne tyme—yet, without so
much as disputing his owne right, he hes bein pleased to discharge
all these; and, likewayes, for what seemed grievous to ministers at
their entrie, and complained of, not only be ministers but by laicks,
the Kings majestie hes beine pleased to declair, that no oaths shall
be exacted of intrants; not that I am commanded to say that ye should
desist here, or take it for a command not to meddle with any more; but
to this end that ye may see his Majesties grace and goodnes, and how
willing he is when reason ruleth, to doe all that can be expected from
a graceous and good King, and requires that this Assembly shall take
to their consideration what is further fitting for freeing us of our
feares and preventing the lyke in tyme to come. And, farther, we have
complained of the personall faults of men, and I am persuadit my Master
will protect no man further nor the Word of God, and order of law doth
allow. Yea, he hath ane eare open to all complaints, and hath commanded
me to receive all billes, and heare them according to the order of
justice, which I hope shall give satisfactione to all men, that is, for
the persons of men. The very calling of itselfe Episcopacie hath beene
represented to his Majestie as a grievance—as ane occasion of thir
evills—as a thing so farr contrare to the institutions of this Kirk,
so many tymes abjured, as that the subjects would not find themselves
quyet in conscience, except the King should be graceouslie pleased to
see it utterlie abolished: and I am commanded to tell you so much, that
his Majestie expects that ye will take this as he meanes it, and as I
now expresse it.
It hath ever beine thought that no mans judgement can be satisfied
without reason. The Kings breeding hath been in a Church where,
ye know, Episcopacie is allowed as a warrantable governement; but
without more discourse, least possible I involve myselfe in greater
difficulties than I can easilie be redd of, I am commanded to tell you
that I have represented the grievances and occasions of those great
evills.
The Kings Majestie is graceouslie pleased to give directions, that
this Generall Assemblie shall consider whether so be or not; and what
yee shall determine in it, I hope ye sall give me no cause but with
that same heartinesse, to expreese my Masters willingness to joyne his
assent and approbation thereto, I shall desire, and truelie I desire
in a verie serious way, that no man carp at my words, (for God knowes
I must come here without premeditation,) further than this, that if in
my expressions of what I conceave to be my Masters meaning, any man
find not himselfe to be satisfied either in the generall way of it,
or in any particular, they would, in that modestie that becomes good
subjects, testifying their tender respect to the honour of our graceous
Master, represent their doubts; and I hope I shall be able to give them
satisfaction.
Next, becaus we are not all of one disposition nor temper of mynd, give
me leave to represent unto yow, that if any of thir particulars, either
last or first—I name none of them—if there be anything more to be
expected or wished then I have said, I should humblie, I say, represent
to your consideration, that before ye fall upon any poynt that should
be unsavourie to so good a King, they may be first communicat to some
of yourselves, and well digested before they come to all our eares
in publict, least ye force me to make answer in that way which will
be unsavourie unto yow, and no less unto myselfe. But this course
being keiped, though I have bluntlie and rudelie exprest my Masters
meaning; yet going in this way, I may expect retribution of respect to
auctoritie, which ye all professe to vindicat his honour before the
eyes of all the worlde; and to vindicat his owne thoughts and privat
judgment, your owne goodnes and duetifulnes I am confident will give
me satisfaction. I may say, whatever my Master hath done in this,
it is done to a good and thankfull people, in doing whereof he will
establishe a place in Kirk and Commonwealth, the fruites thereof will
redound to himselfe in receaving all duetifull obedience; and seeing
nothing amongst us but consent and harmony, and no contest at all,
except it be who should be formest—first, in their duetie to God, and
next to the King.
_A particular deduction of the Grievances of the Church._
The Moderatour answered—We have very great reason to blesse our Lord,
that hath brought foorth this fruite of his favour by such graceous and
honorable meanes to our comfort; and we acknowledge heir, heartilie,
that there is no small expression of our Kings Majesties gentlenes and
goodnes and love to his subjects, that he hath done of his owne accord
so much, and is readie to doe yet further, and to cast into our hands
what God, reason, and law doth allow of, which his Majestie cannot be
particularlie informed of, except from us. We have to thanke God and
his Majestie for that pointe. As for your Grace his Commissioner, yow
have followed the order indeed that is very pertinent, and hath asked
of us in privat, and hath place to ask us in publict, the causes of
disturbance that hath beene amongst us; and as we are bound to give ane
accompt of our proceedings to all men, so especiallie to his Majestie,
or any in his name, and to your Grace in particular. And as in privat
we have dilated some, not takeing upon us to comprize them all, so are
we heir in publict, readie to give satisfaction to his Majestie, and
that by satisfieing of your Grace in this place, concerning all these
illes, takeing them in their owne order as they come in mynd, so farr
as memorie can serve; and for our pairt we have been about to remead
them according to the order of the Kirk, so farr as we could, and will
doe what we can farther, as becomes the Assembly of the Kirk, to goe
in that same course; and we have to crave not only that his Majestie
may be satisfied concerning our proceedings, but that he would confirme
by the civile sanction, that His Majestie and your Grace shall find to
be according to the rule of religion and the word of God, and nothing
else purpose we to crave, nor have we intendit, but are perswaded in
our consciences such, and for which we are readie to give reasons when
we are requyred. In particular, the causes of the grievances that we
have had, and which we have beene about to repair, according to the
constitution and ordinances of the Kirk, are—
First, the want of Generall Assemblies yearlie and oftener, _pro re
nata_, as the necessitie of the Kirk did requyre, which, when we had,
was a verie fair benefite both from God and from the State; for therein
all disorders were freilie spocken of, and when they were withholden,
its knowne by whose procurement, even these that wrought ws much more
griefe, that they might worke the rest contrare to the constitutions of
this Kirk and order of the Booke of Policie and Act of Parliament 1592.
That is one of our grievances.
Secondlie, Another is, that there has beene keiped and authorized some
other Assemblies, that [were] both of wrong constitutions, and did
bring innovations contrare to the order established in this Church and
Kingdome—namelie, Assemblies at Linlithgow, Glasgow, Aberdeine, St
Androwes, Perthe; and
The third cause, as I remember, is, that the Kirk hes bein prest with
the Five Articles of Perthe, and no small griefe brought these to the
subjects which their consciences was thralled to doe. These thinges
they knew, and we have found to be contrare to the Confession of our
Faith; and
The fourth is, that we have beine prest (which also your Grace
will remember) with a Service Booke, Booke of Cannons, and High
Commission—the Service Booke, not only for the frame of it being
Popishe, drawing us away from the spiritual maner of serving our
Lord, wherein everie man should speake to God according to his
present neid and sense, and not to be tyed and speake he wotes not
what, but, besides, the containing many seids of idolatrie and grosse
superstition: the Booke of Cannons, appoynting offices that God never
ordained to be thrust into the house of God, contrare to this State,
and raising up a tirranie in Prelats that is unsupportable either
by reason or any other way: and the High Commission, confounding
judicatories, and putting the keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven in their
hands, who had no power, nor any ecclesiastick office, and againe
putting the civile sword in the hands of Ministers that had no interest
thereunto; God having so distinguisht judicatories, giving everie man
his oune imployment and gifts for it, that his Kingdome should be no
prejudice to the Commonwealth, and hes furnisht the Nobles, and everie
member of the State, so weill, as they need not begg a Kirkman from
his booke to helpe them. Beside this ill, there is the breach of our
Nationall Covenant with God, and not walking holilie and tenderlie
aocording to the same, and did not see the consequence of what, for the
present, seemed little: the not taking head unto it tymouslie hes put
us in this bussinesse, which is now weill enough knowne.
Sixthlie, In particular, there is this Episcopall Governement crupten
in slilie, and erected without order of law, besides the Word of God,
contrare the Confession of Faith and Constitutions of this Kirk, from
the beginning, and the intention and meaning of the Kirk from the
Reformation, who went about alwayes stryving that Kirkmen should be
keeped at their booke and their Masters service, and not stryving who
should be first and highest up in Court, but who should be most godlie,
most honest, and gaine moniest soules unto God, and so keip their
reward till they and their Master meit.
A seventh is, The civile places of the Kirkmen—their usurpation in
Assemblies as they were Lords, whereas all kynd of Lordshipps is cutt
off from Ministers of his house; for he hes appointed in his house to
be only a ministrie, for that is the difference betweene his Spirituall
Kingdome in the subordination of the Temporall. In the ane, all the
officers are Ministers; in the other, the officers are Kings, Lords, &c.
These are the Spirituall evills which, being contrare to the Word of
God, the Constitutions of this Kirk, and the Confession of Faith, what
wonder they greive all honest men who hes no consolation in this world,
but the hope of another? And, therefore, are they readie to exposse
themselves to any trouble under heaven before they quyte a poynt of
their Masters honour. These are the maine causes and reasons of our
setting ourselves against them; and, for our proceeding against them,
we are here readie to give satisfaction to your Grace, as it shall be
your Graces pleasour to choppe at particulars. And, as concerning the
last poynt, touching His Majesties honour, recommended to ws by your
Grace, we may speake tenderlie of as becomes us. It is our duetie, and
we professe it, and take God to witnesse, that we make conscience in
our secrete thoughts, to honour His Majestie; for we know our religion
cannot endure civile Magistrats to get any wrong; for in wronging of
him we wrong Him that sent him, and cledd him with power, and sett him
on his throne; and so we are so farre from not following of that, that
in privat and secrete we professe that we darre not but make conscience
of it. No, no; religion gives them their owne but ours, for Popperie
toppes them over: but doe one thing to ws. Let us give Christ the
highest roume, and nothing that may honour or pleasure Kings, but we
shall altogither doune at their feete with it.
The Commissioner answered—I told yow, Sir, that I did so speake as that
it might suffer corrections, and did remember very shortly the causes
of our distractions, and I should wishe them never to be remembered
without great thankfulnes to God and the King for freeing us of them;
yea, I wishe everie thing that hes brought thinges to that height of
divisions amongst ourselves might be forgotten. Neither yet, in my
last speach, did I give my opinion and advice, out of doubting of the
performance of what I wished; for I am confident, when we rightlie
consider the cariage of this bussines, and his Majesties goodnes
beyond our expectation, it shall be ane argument to move us to repay
the same with thanksgiving. I told yow, as I remember, that the Kings
Majestie, upon the frequent Petitions of his Subjects, conceaved such
and such thinges to be the occasion of the illes, and of all that had
followed on them; and, therefore upon our desires, concluded that this
Assembly should be keept at this tyme, to the end it might be rightlie
considered whether or not these illes were the occasions of these
thinges that have fallen furth, as was pretended by the Supplications
of the Subjects.
The Moderatour answered—Please your Grace: We have considered, and
maturelie considered, and done our younemost for clearing [that] thir
our grieveances were justlie against all these, and nothing els; and
here we are readie to give satisfaction to all who doubts it.
The Commissioner answered—Truelie, I should be desyrous to be satisfied
in some particulars, if it might not possiblie breid ane opinion in
some that I should take upon me to dispute or argue with such learned
men as I know would appeare if I should take upon me so to doe, as if I
desire Episcopacie, so oft alleadged to be against the constitutions of
this Kirk, to be cleired to be so. I believe ye shall not thinke me so
presumptuous as to take upon me to dispute the matter; but to the end I
may represent to my Master the reasons of it, and receave satisfaction
my selfe.
The Moderatour answered—Your Graces abilitie to dispute in all such
subjects is knowne sufficientlie; but it shall be verie acceptable unto
us that your Grace, and especiallie as his Majesties Commissioner,
shall propone all your doubts to us, that we may solve them: for we
have said or done nothing but what may well byde the light, and we are
able to convince, in reason, a reasonable man, such as your Grace is;
and here, in a manner, are verie confident that the more we be put to
give our reasons, the clearer our cause shall be, and we shall be able
to give the more satisfaction.
The Commissioner answered—Yow have heard, and I believe your
conceptions may be more particular then myne; but I believe myne
differs not much from yours—_first_, in that it is supponed by the
subjects to be the occasion of thir divisions and distractions;
_secondlie_ neither doe we differ much about the cause of indiction
of this Assemblie, which is to remove these evilles; and since yow
and I agrie in thir two, I would represent to your consideration, in
the _third_ place, what shall be the readiest way to give my Master
satisfaction, whose desire is that these thinges being represented unto
him, ye shall either find that these are the true causes, and so ought
to be removed, or uther wayes a mistake, and so ought to remaine. If
the true causes, and so ought to be removed, he expects a reason of
all—as, for example, if ye find Episcopacie to be a true greevance and
cause of offence, and therefore to be removed—if ye conclude this, ye
will give a reason of all, and make it appeare to my Master to be the
constitutions of this Kirk.
The Moderatour said—For removing of all thir evills, whereof ye have
spocken, there is a necessitie of the concurrence of our Lord Jesus
Christ in the Kirk, and of his Vicegerent in the State; and when thir
two concurres, our evills shall be perfectlie cured; and if not, there
will remaine a jarre now—the ane pairt being done so farre as we weak
churchmen could do ministeriallie. That your Grace, as his Majesties
Commissioner, may concurre with us, will be unto us verie comfortable;
and for that end we are willing to give satisfaction to your Grace, and
to shew that, from the first constitution of this Church, her ayme hes
alwayes bein to hold out that wicked weed of Episcopacie, knowing that
it was the ground of all Popprie; and in it did sitt, as in a nest,
all the evils that hes overspread the face of this Kirk; and as ill
weeds waxes verie weel, so from this root hes growen up many poysonable
branches that hes troubled the Church of God, becaus Christ Jesus,
being King of this Kirke, and having the statelie appointment of the
government thereof, if anything be out of frame in that, it troubles
the whole estate. For this cause, the Church, from the beginning hes
laboured still to cutt it downe; and becaus I have rudelie exprest
my rude conception, it will please some reverend brother to speake
somewhat further.