Chapter X: Part 10

William Twiffe, _Prolocutor_. Cornelius Burges, _Assessor_. Henry Robrough, _Scriba_. Adoniram Byfield, _Scriba_.

_The Generall Assemblies Answer to the right Reverend the Assembly of Divines in the Kirk of_ England.

_Right Honourable, right Reverend, and most dearly beloved in our Lord,_

We do thankfully acknowledge your respectfull remembrance of us by your Letters at all occasions; and not a little rejoyce to see that happie correspondence and Christian communion so sweetly entertained amongst us, which is so acceptable in the sight of the Lord, so pleasant and profitable, especially when kept and entertained betwixt Kirks and Kingdomes about affairs of highest and most publick concernment and interest: We have nothing more in our desires than to entertain that harmonious correspondence, that Christian sympathie and compassion, that sounding and resounding of bowels, which well beseemeth Kirks and Nations, United by a solemn League & sacred Covenant, for mutuall endeavours, by all lawfull means to a further unitie in that Faith once delivered to the Saints, and greater Uniformitie in Divine Worship, Discipline, and Government, according to the Paterne.

The case and condition of your bleeding Kingdome is no lesse sensible to us, than if our selves were in affliction with you; but we trust all is working to your best, and to our Lords glory: That some of you hes fallen, it is to try you, purge you, and make you white: If the Lord by those means be with that Reformation of his Ordinances, bringing also alongst that other Reformation of hearts and lives should it not be welcomed with all joy, although it bee upon the expence of blood and lives? The Lord will turn the bygone rage of Man to his glory and your spiritual good the remnant of rage will hee restraine. The Lord delivereth his owne by degrees, _he is with them in trouble, and delivereth them, and honoureth them_; He who hath been sensibly with you hitherto, and upholden you in your trouble, will we trust, yet deliver you, and honour you: The more ye sow in tears, the greater shall be your harvest of peace and joy, when the Lord according to the dayes wherein he hath afflicted you, and the years wherein yee have seen evill, shall make you glad, and his Work to appeare unto you, and his glory unto your children, and the beautie of the Lord your God to be upon you, and shall establish the work of your hands; yea, even establish the work of your hands.

We should prove both unthankfull to God, and unfaithfull to men, did wee not hold out unto you the Lords gracious and powerfull dealing with us in the like condition, and comfort you with the consolations wherewith wee our selves have been comforted: We were involved in the like difficulties; we had the strong opposition of highest Authoritie set over two powerfull Kingdoms, beside this of ours; and the unhappy providence of our wickedly wise and wary Prelates, had done what in them lay, to make the Ministery of this Land sworn Enemies to the intended Reformation: So that we walked in a very wildernesse, in a labyrinth, and as upon deep waters, wherein not onely did our feet lose footing, but also our eyes all discovering or discerning of any ground; yea; wee were ready to lose our selves: Yet the Lord hath graciously rid us, and recovered us out of all these difficulties, and set our feet upon a rock, and ordered our goings. The experience wee have had in our own persons, affoordeth us confidence and hope concerning your affaires; and wee trust this hope shall not be disappointed; it is our duety to hope upon experience, and it is the Lords word and promise, that such an hope shall not be ashamed. It cannot choose but beget confidence in you, when ye shall consider, that ye have seen before your eyes your neighboring Ship of this Kirk and Kingdome, having (as it were) loosed from your side, in the like or self-same storme, notwithstanding all tossing of windes and waves, yet (_not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts_) to have arrived safe and sound to the Port and Harberie; yea, and to have dared to put out again unto the storm, to contribute her weak endeavours for your help.

We acknowledge your impediments to be great and many, the sufferings of your Brethren, the People of GOD, cannot choose but both damp your spirits, and divide your thoughts: Your walking in an untroden and unknown way, must put you (though never so willing to go on speedily, yet) to take time and leisure to ask for the right way, and ye want nor the opposition of some amongst your selves, to whom notwithstanding we trust the Lord will reveale his truth in his own time. Never the lesse (much honoured and dear Brethren) go on couragiously against the stream of all opposition; every Mountain in the way of _Zerubbabel_, the Lord shall make plain; and as many of you as are perfect, be thus minded, that forgetting the things that are behinde, and looking to the things that are before, you presse hard towards the mark, as having before you, not onely the prize of the high calling and recompence of reward, but also at the end of this race, these two precious Pearls and inestimable Jewels of Truth and Unity, and all the Reformed Churches beholding and looking on, not onely as witnesses, but also being ready to congratulate and embrace you.

We were greatly refreshed to hear by Letters from our Commissioners there with you, and by a more particular relation from the Lord _Waristoun_ now with us, of your praise-worthy proceedings, and of the great good things the Lord hath wrought among you and for you: Shall it seem a small thing in our eyes, that the Covenant (the foundation of the whole Work) is taken? That that Antichristian Prelacy with all the traine thereof is extirpate? That the door of a right entrie unto faithful Shepherds is opened; many corruptions, as Altars, Images, and other Monuments of Idolarry and Superstition removed, defaced and abolished; the Service-book in many places forsaken, and plaine and powerfull preaching set up; the great Organs at _Pauls_ and _Peters_ taken down; That the Royal Chappell is purged and reformed, Sacraments sincerely administrate, and according to the paterne in the Mount, That your Colledges, the Seminaries of your Kirk, are planted with able and sincere Professors? That the good hand of GOD hath called and kept together so many pious, grave, and learned Divines for so long a time, and disposed their hearts to search his Truth by their frequent Humiliations, continuall Prayers, and learned and peaceable debates? Should not all and each one of these stir up our souls to blesse the Lord, and render both you and us confident, that he who hath begun the good Work, will perfect it, and put the Copestone upon it; That the beauty of a perfected Worke may shine to all Nations, and we may say and shout, _Grace, Grace, unto it_; That the time may be when full liberty and leasure shall be to all the Builders of the House of GOD, to give themselves with both their hands to the building up and edifying the People of GOD in these things that belong to life and Godlinesse, to the making of them wise to salvation, and throughly furnished to every good work, and when the Lord shall delight to dwell more familiarly, and to work more powerfully in, and by his throughly purified Ordinances? That you afflicted and tossed with tempests and not comforted, shall have your stones laid with fair Colours, your foundation with Saphires, your Children shall be taught of GOD, and shall have great peace, and no Weapon framed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that riseth against you in Judgement shall bee condemned; That the Lord will awake as in the ancient dayes, as in the generation of old; That the Redeemed of the Lord shall come unto Zion with singing, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

And as we are confident that the Lord who heareth Prayer, and hath promised to guide his Servants in all truth, will bring your labours to a comfortable Conclusion: So do all the Reformed Kirks, and the Kirk of Scotland above all others extreamly long for the taste of the fruits of their pious labours and continual pains: And so much the more, that we have suspended some material determinations amongst our selves, upon expectation of Uniformity; And that in the meane time so many scandalous Papers come to our view, and to the hands of the People here, for libertie of Conscience, toleration of Sects, and such Practices as are contrary to the Doctrine, Goverment, and Peace of all the Reformed Kirks. For stopping and suppressing whereof, as wee doubt not, but your wisedome, and the Authority of the honourable Houses of Parliament will use some more effectual means; So do we hope that your Determinations shall carry such evidence of Divine Truth, and demonstration of the Spirit, that those unhappy Clouds of darknesse shall be so scattered, that they shall be no more gathered nor appear hereafter, to the dishonour of God, the prejudice of his Truth, and the scandalizing of so many Souls for which Christ hath dyed.

We do with hearty thankfulnesse resent all the kindnesse and respect you have shown to our Commissioners, and your high esteeme of them in love for the Works sake; Although their presence here would be very comfortable unto us, very steedable to the publick, and necessar in respect of their great and important particular charges and Stations; yet do we willingly dispense with all, yea nothing shall be too dear unto us, so that this Work be finished with joy, and _Jerusalem made the glory and praise of the whole Earth: Because of the house of the Lord our God we will feel her good: For our Brethren and Companions sake, we will now say, Peace be within her Walls, prosperity within her Palaces._

_Edinburgh 4 June 1644,_

Subscribed in name of the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of _Scotland_, by the Moderator of the Assembly.

_The Assemblies answer to their Commissioners at_ London.

_Reverend and Beloved Brethren,_

It would have been the rejoycing of our hearts, and the lightning of our countenances, to have seen your faces, and injoyed your presence here with us, especially, should yee have arrived unto us loaden with the spoils of Antichrist, the Trophees of the Kirk of Christ, and the long longed-for fruits of your painfull labours: But seeing it hath pleased the Lord whose Interest in the businesse is main and principall otherwise to dispose, it doth become us with all humility to submit to his good pleasure, with faith & patience to attend his leasure, _for he that beleeveth maketh not haste_, and with more frequency and fervencie in prayer seek to him who will be sought for these things and having _begun the good work will perfect it_, and double the benefit by bestowing it in a more seasonable time unto us.

We have not been a little refreshed with your Letters sent unto us and the Commissioners of the preceeding Assembly, and with these from the Reverend Synod of Divines, the answer whereof you will be pleased to present unto them: by all which and more particularly by a full Relation from the Lord _Waristoun_ a faithfull witnesse and a fellow labourer with you there, we see and acknowledge that by the Lords blessing, the Progresse of the Work is already more, than we can overtake in the course of our thankfulness; that your labours are very great, your pains uncessant, your thoughts of heart many, that ye endure the heat of the day; but being confident of your patient continuance in wel-doing, and that your labours shall not be in vaine in the Lord, wee have renewed your Commission, and returned the Lord _Waristoun_ unto you, according to your desire, that ye may prosecute that great Work which the Lord hath blessed so farre in your hands.

When the Ordination and entry of Ministers shall be conformable to the Ordinance of God, there is to be expected a richer blessing shall be powred out from above, both of furniture and assistance upon themselves, and of successe upon their labours; for which end as our earnest desire is, that the Directory for it may be established: so doe we exceedingly long to see the common Directory for worship perfected, which may prove an happy meane of that wished for Uniformity in the Kirks of the three Kingdomes, shall (we trust) direct by all Rocks of offence and occasions of stumbling, and shall remove all these corruptions wherewith the Lords sacrifice and service hath been defiled.

That point concerning a change of the Paraphrase of the Psalmes in Meeter, we have referred to the Commissioners here, whose power and Commission granted by the preceding Assembly, we have renewed and continued. That there be difficulties concerning Kirk-Government, wee think it not strange for these reasons you lay our before us; yet because the minds of men are still in suspense upon the successe of the determination of that Reverend Assembly on the one hand, and upon the successe of the Warre on the other: which doth not a little faint their hearts and feeble their hands, both you and we must be instant with God and man for a finall determination of all these debates, and a happy and speedy conclusion of this great affaire, so much concerning his own glory and the good of his Kirk. _Now the Lord lead you in all truth, and give you understanding in all things._

Edinburgh 4. June 1644.

_Subscribed in name of the Generall Assembly by the Moderator._

_The Assemblies Letter to the Kirks in the_ Netherlands.

Fratres in Domino plurimum colendi.

_Quæ Anno superiore Ecclesiarum Zelandicarum nomine, missæ sunt ad nos Literæ, ut eas communis totius Ecclesiæ vestræ Religicæ voluntatis restes suisse interpretaremur, effecit benevolentia vestra tot tantisque officiis nobis spectata: Quam sententiam nobis confirmarunt ea quæ copiosè clarissimus Eques_ D. Archibadus Jonsto nus Varistonus _in soro supremo Judex, à reliquis tum Ordinum cum Ecclesiæ hujus Regni Delegate_ Londine _nonita pridem remissus, in hac ipsa Synodo Nationali de eximio vestro erga nos syudio commemoravit: Præfertim quanta fid, quam solicita diligentia nofsram, vel Domini potius nostri Jesu Christi causam, quæ nunc_ Londini _agitur & promoveriitis, & promovers etiamnum fatagatis. Quo in negotio, ex iis, quorum ab eo resitata audivimus nomina, de propensa reliquorum voluntate & cura, ut conciliandæ Ecclesiarum Britannicarum unionis fæliciter suscepta consilia, vestra ope & opera prosperum mature fortiantur exitum, minime obscura fecimus indicia. Sunt hæc tam illuseria __ benevolentiæ vestræ testimonia, & in omnium bonorum oculis adeo perspicua ut eorum memoriam nulla unquam delere potuerint oblivia. Laboris autem & jam inpensi & porrò suscepti ad controversias in Synodo_ Londinensi _suborientes fœliciter expediendas & decidendas nequando pœniteat ex eo quem per divinam jam benedictionem fructum cepistis, optima quæque in posterum sperare consentaneum est._

_Huic tam honorifice beneficiorum vestrorum commemorationi à_ D. Varistonio _factæ supervenerunt ex partibus Hiberniæ aquilonaribus Literæ multorum Chirographis subsignatæ; Qui singularis gratiæ in illam Ecelesiam divinitus effusæ, ex quo tempore in societatem fœderistrium unitorum sub Rege nostro Regnorum admissi sunt,_ “_mentione facta, hujus inquiunt divinæ benedictionis amplissimum nuper habuimus testimonium. Sanctorum in Belgio liberalitatem eximiam; Qui nobis, ignotis licet & poregrinis, fratres se nostri amantissimos, & malorum nostrorum sensu tenerrima compunctos aperte demonstrârunt. Pauculos enim nos gladis superstites, & fame propediem interituros, omnibus extremis circumventos, in ipso articulo sublevarunt: Nec tantum oratione ad consolationum composita nobis animos confirmârunt, hortantes ut humiliter incedentes Deum liberatorem expectemus, qui non nisi ad breve tempus aciem suam à domo_ Jacob _abscondere solet, sed subsidio insuper opulento cum annonæ tum aliarum rerum ad nostram intantis angustis relaxationem & solatium necessarium copiose nos refocillârunt. Tantum munificentiam cum supplices a Deo contendimus, ut septuplam ipsis in sinum rependat tum demisse vos etiam atque etiam rogamus ut in tanti beneficii agnitione Ecclesiis Belgicis, nobi eum gratias agatis. Hæc illi. In quo quidem officio si illis desimus, in nos pariter & illos graviter peccemus._”

_Agnoscimus igitur illustrissimorum & potentissimorum_ Hollandiæ, Zelandiæ, _aliorumque Ordinum_ Belgicorum _tam eximiam beneficenciam: Quibus non conniventibus modo & permittentibus (quod ipsum non vulgare beneficium habendum esset) sed authoribus etiam modumque & rationem ræscribentibus, exemplo qnoque præunitibus in subsidium fratrum nostrorum_ Hiberne _collecta per Ecclesias facta ad ipsos mature deportata sit: Agnoscimus piorum in iisdem Ecclesiis Belgicis tam expromptam: volantatem & liberalitatem; tantum beneficium non in __ ipsos magis fratres nostres, quam in illorum persona in nosinet ipsos esse collatum: Vosque (fratres Reverendi) obnixè rogatos volumus, ut quemadmodum nos ad omnem grati animi significationem prompti semper erimus, ita quâ potissimum ratione commodum videbitur, illustrissimis & potentissimis Ordinibus nostre nomine gratias agatis populo autem Christiano curæ vestræ commisso tum publice universo, tum privatim singulis, ut occasio tulerit, demonstretis quam honorifice de ipsis sentiamus, & quanti faciamus tam eximiam benevolentiam & charitatem, quâ in Ecclesiarum_ Hibernicarum _consolatione viscera nostra refocillaverunt. Quæ autem vestræ fuerint partes, fratres charissimi, quam pio studio & labore, quam assidua diligentia tantæ charitatis semen in segetem & maturam tandem messem provexeritis, cum nos libentes agnoscimus, tum res ipsa loquitur, & fructus opimus abunde testatur. Inprimis autem (quod caput est) tantæ gratiæ authorem & largitorem nos una cum Ecclesiis_ Hibernicis _laudamus & celebramus: comprecantes ut in vos universos, in Ecclesias a Domino vobis commissas, in illustrissimos_ Belgii _vestri Ordines Spiritum suum copiose effundat, ut quemadmodum in Rep. vestra adversus hostem potentissimum defendenda, & inter tantas bellorum moles indies amplificanda, in Evangelii luce & veritate incontaminatâ contra inferorum portas in vestris Ecclesiis propugnandâ, atque inde latius propagandâ, immensa Dei vobis excubantis potentia, multiformis sapientia, & eximia beneficentia, per universum terrarum orbem hactenus celebrata est; ita bonis omnibus vos deinceps cumulare pergat idem fons omnis bonitatis, ut frementibus religionis & libertatis vestræ hostibus, sapientiæ & optimarum artium juxta ac armorum triumphorumque gloriâ inter nobilissimas gentes Resp. vestra fœderata quotidie magis emineat, Ecclesia sacrorum puritate, & cælestis veritatis splendore perspicua refulgeat; eoque prosperè vobis cedant vestra prudentissima & saluberrima consilia, quibus certissimum ad fælicitatem publicam compendium vos capessure demonstratis, nec vobis tantum consulitis, sed de vicinis etiam Ecclesiis soliciti, quâ operâ, quâ consilio opibusque vestris eas sublevatis & confirmatis omnes, & quasi de specula unversis prospicientes de periculis imminentibus commonefacitis, & ad ruinam ab hostibus dolosè machinatam maturè precavendam armatis._

_Ergo quod anno superiori, veluti signo dato, Reformatas omnes Ecclesias, missis ex_ Zelandia _literis commonuistis, ut cum impostores_, Jesu _nomen impudenter ementiti, cæterique Antichristi satellites, quo securius in populum erroribus Pontificiis fascinatum grassari, & puriores Christi Ecclesias funditus extirpare queant, arctissimâ conjuratione Sociati ad impia consilia patranda sese accinxerunt, Ita Ecclesiæ quoque Reformatæ sine mora consilia in medium alacriter conferant, & animos ac vires conjungant, ut perniciem sibi omnibus intentatam in hostium capita retorqueant: ni fecerint, tam pudendæ ignaviæ excusatione apud posteritatem carituri: consilium non minus prudens & fidum, quam fælix & salutare libenter & tum agnovimus & nunc ipso etiam eventu comprobamus._

_Principio autem ad hoc consequendum necessarium videtur, ut sine morâ convolemus omnes ad Deum nostrum clementissimum, qui postquam Ecclesiarum Reformatarum mores minimè reformatos multis annis longanimitate suâ pertulisset, ferulam primum, mox etiam gladium vibratum interminata, tandem rubentem & madidum suorumque sanguine calentem & spumantem per regiones plurimas jam diu circumtulis; in nos denique reliquos nunc intentat, nisi mature resipuerimus, & de domo ipsius amplius purgandâ, de gratia Domini nostri_ Jesu Christi_ pluris facienda, de cultu Dei ipsiusque institutis religiosius habendis, de Sabbatho ejus sanctificando, a quo nimium oculos nostros avertimus, & de moribus ad pietatis normam componendis magis serio quam hactenus a nobis factum est, nobiscum statuentes cum populo Dei sub_ Nehemia, Josia, _reliquisque piis Gubernatoribus, religioso fœdere percusso, tanquam firmissimo vinculo Deo obstricti, nos internes arctius adversus hostes univerimus, ut avertat Deus jam fumantem & capitibus nostris imminentem iram, quam peccata nostra plurima & maxima adversus nos prevocerunt & accenderunt._

_Non tantum nobis deferimus, nondum eos renovato cum Deo fœdere, & votis nuncupatis dignos edidimus fructus, ut nostrum exemplum vobis proponere libeat: Quod tamen experti fumus, de Dei erga nos gratia, quod gratitudo erga Deum, quod gloria ipsius a nobis flagitat, celare non audemus. Quecunque nostra male merita sunt in conspectu Dei & hominum; certe ex quo die nos de religìoso fœdere cum Deo & inter nos ineundo cogitavimus, a portis inferorum revocari, & res nostræ omnes in Deum nostrum necessario __ conjectæ melius habere cæperunt, & fæliciore hactenus successu processerunt. Quod si de fœderis huiusmodi religiosa societate cocunda (quod rerum veltrarum & Religionis in_ Britannia _nostra ex fœdere nuper inito perpurgandæ & stabilandæ commodo fieri possit) vestræ prudentiæ visum fuerit cogitare, & ex consilio eorum quorum interest statuere, ac eum aliis Reformatis Ecclesiis agere (proea qua apud omnes valetis gratia) ut eandem vobiscum ineant rationem, non dubium est, per Domini ac Dei nostri benignissimi_ Jesu Christi _in Ecclesias suas gratiam, fore, ut non modo, quod certissimum adversus impendentia mala persugium anno superiore missis ex_ Zelandia _literis denunciastis: Ecclesiæ Reformatæ arctioris Societatis vinculo inter se unita ad hostium conatus impetusque frangendos corroberentur & confirmantur; sed disiecti etiam lapides Domus Dei per_ Germaniam _ex rudere & cineribus ridevivi recolligantur, ac gloriosum Domini nostri Templum ibidem instauretur: & purioris Religionis Professores in istis Ecclesiis, per resipiscentiam ad eum qui percussit eos, reversi, & quod nullis canescat sæculis fœdere, Domino nobiscum coadunati, malis, sub quorum pondere tot annos gemiscunt, tandem subleventur. Qui Dies longe optatissimus si per Dei gratiam semel illuxerit: de consiliorum communione inter Reformatarum Ecclesiarum Synodos per Legatos & Literas concilianda redivivi possit ratio, per quam Ecclesiæ hostes compescantur, hæreses opprimantur, & schismata retarciantur, pax cum Deo & inter Ecclesias firma conservetur, & gloriosum Dei opus in Evangelio per orbem terrarum propagando, & Antichristi regno abolendo promoveatur. Quod ut optandum, & sperandum, piis & prudentibus vestris meditationibus, ut bonnum semen fæcundissimo solo commendamus._

_Edinburgi._ 4 Junii 1644.

Vestræ Dignitati & Fraternitati addictissimi, Pastores & Seniores Nationalis Synodi Scoticanæ, &c. nostro omnium nomine ac mandato.

DIRECT.

_Ecclesiis Dei, qua sunt in unitis Hollandiæ, Zelandiæ, aliisque fœderati_ Belgii _Provinciis._

_Ordinance concerning Bursars._

The Assembly understanding that the Overture for maintaining Bursars, in the Assembly holden in the year 1641. upon the 7. of August, Sess. 15 is never yet put in practice: Do therefore Ordain Presbyteries to put the same in practice with all diligence, and to make account thereof to the next Assembly.

_Ordinance for up lifting and imploying Penalties contained in Acts of Parliament, upon pious uses._

The Assembly understanding that the executing of some laudable Acts of Parliament, made against Non-Communicants and Excommunicate persons, and of divers other Acts containing pecuniall pains for restraining of Vice, and advancing Piety, is much neglected by the slownesse of Presbyteries and Ministers, in seeking Execution thereof: Therefore ordains Presbyteries and Ministers _respectivè_, to be diligent hereafter by all means, in prosecuting full and exact Execution of all such Acts of Parliament, for lifting the saids Penalties contained in the same, and for faithfull imployment thereof, upon pious uses, and that every Presbyterie report their diligence herein yearly to Generall Assemblies.

_An Overture concerning Promises of Marriage made by Minors, to those with whom they have committed Fornication._

Forsameikle as it is found by experience, that some young men being put to Colledges by their wel-affected Parents, that they may be instructed in the knowledge of Arts and Sciences, to the intent they may bee more able for publick Imployments in the Ecclesiastick and Civill state, that the said Children hes committed Fornication. And the Woman and her friends hes seduced the foresaid Schollers being Minors, to make promise of Marriage to the party with whom they have committed Fornication; And thereupon intends to get the benefite of Marriage with the said young men, not onely without the consent of their Parents, but to their great grief, and to the great appearance of the ruine and overthrow of their estate: Which may be the case of Noblemen and Gentlemens children, as welas of these of other estates and degrees within the Kingdom. Wherefore if the Assembly think it expedient, it would be declared that all such promises be made null and of none effect, especially where the maker of the promise is Minor, and not willing to observe the samine; because his Parents will not consent, but oppose and contradict, threatning to make him lose not onely his favour but both blessing and birth-right. This Ordinance shal not onely be very expedient for many good civill causes, but is very consonant and agreeable to the Word of God, and will be very comfortable to many Godly Parents, who otherwise may be disappointed of their pious intentions, and have the comfort they expected, turned to an heavy and grievous crosse.

_The Generall Assembly thinks it convenient at this time to delay any determination in the matter above-written untill the next assembly, That in the meane time every Presbterie may take the same to their serious consideration, and report their judgements to the Assembly._

_Act concerning dissenting voices in Presbyteries and Synods._

The Assembly thinks it necessar, if any Member of Presbyteries or Synods shall finde in matters depending before them, that the Moderator shall refuse to put any thing of importance to voices; Or if they finde any thing carried by plurality of voices to any determination which they conceive to be contrary to the Word of God, the Acts of Assembly, or to the received order of this Kirk, That in either of these cases they urge their dissent to be marked in the Register; And if that be refused, that they protest as they would desire to be free of common censure with the rest: And the Assembly declares the dissenters to be censurable, if their dissent shall be found otherwise nor they conceived.

_Act concerning the Election of a Moderator in Provinciall Assemblies._

The General Assembly understanding that some Provincial Assemblies in choosing their Moderator, tye themselves to these Persons who have been before named and designed in particular Presbyteries, which is against the libertie of the Provincial Assembly: Therefore discharges Presbyteries to make any such nomination hereafter; And ordain Provincials in their first meeting, to elect their Moderator, and to make their own List for that effect without any such prælimitation.

_Act for keeping of the Fast by the Congregations in the Towne where the Assembly holds._

The Assembly judge it most necessar and comely, seeing the first day of the meeting of Generall Assemblies, is by the laudable practice of this Kirk a day of Fasting and Humiliation, for craving the Lords blessing to that Meeting; That not onely the Members of the Assembly, but that all the Congregations also of the Town where the Assembly holds bee so exercised: And that publick Worship bee in all the Kirks thereof that day for that effect.

Meeting announcement.

_The Generall Assembly appoints the meeting of the next Assembly, to be upon the last Thursday of May, in the Yeer 1645. at_ Edinburgh.

Letter.

_Right Honourable, Reverend, and beloved in the Lord,_

As we are not without the knowledge, so are we not without the feeling of the distresses of our Native Countrey, and of the troubles of our dear Brethren, specially that the hand of the Lord is stretched out against you, not only by Invasion from without of the basest of the children of men, but also by the unnatural treachery of some within; who have dealt perfidiously in the Covenant and Cause of God: _They hisse and gnash the teeth; they say, Wee have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that wee looked for: Wee have found, wee have seen it; the Lord hath caused thine Enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine Adversaries:_ Yet (saith the Lord, who is thy Maker and thy Husband, _the Lord of hosts is his name, and thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel) for a __ small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hide my face from thee, for a moment; but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy on thee: For this is as the waters of Noah, the Covenant of my peace shall not be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee._ When the foundation of the House of the Lord was laid, the Priests and Levites sung together in praising and giving thanks to the Lord; _Because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever,_ And we hope at this time upon the coming of our reverend Brethren, and the sight of that which they bring with them, the noise of the shout of joy; shall be louder then the noise of the weeping of the People. This we may say, that not many years ago many of us would have been content to have losed our lives, that we might have obtained that which the Lord, if not in a miraculous, yet in a marvellous and merciful providence, hath brought to passe in this Iland, in these dayes, which many before us, have desired to see, & have not seen. God forbid that it should seeme a small thing in your eyes which is done here already, as it is expressed in a Paper from the Parliament, and Letters from the Assembly. Ye are best acquainted with the tentations and difficulties which ye meet with there, which are also very sensible unto us; And when we consider how the Lord hath carried on his work here at the first taking of the Covenant, and since, against much learning and contradiction, against much Policie, power, and all sorts of opposition (such as Reformation useth to encounter) we are ravished with admiration of the right hand of the Almighty. For our part, we may confidently avouch in the sight of GOD and before you, whom next unto GOD we do respect and reverence, and to whom as your servants we are accomptable, that in all our proceedings we had first of all the word of GOD before our eyes for the Rule; and for our Patern the Church of _Scotland_, so much as was possible; and no lesse (if not more) then if all this time since we parted from you, we had been sitting in a National Assembly there, and debating matters with our Brethren at home: Where we were not able to get every thing framed to our minde, we have endeavoured as much as we could, to preserve our own Reformation and practice, of which our Brethren will give you accompt in the particulars, we hope, to your satisfaction. That an Uniformitie in every thing is not obtained in the beginning, let it not seem strange; The levelling of the high Mountain of Prelacie, The laying aside of the Book of Common Prayer, The Directory of Worship concluded in both Houses of Parliament, and the principall Propositions of Church-government passed in the Assembly, all of them according to the solemne League and Covenant, the greatest of all, are three or foure witnesses to prove, that the Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad, and which make us _like them that dream_: And we are sure, that not onely the Reformed Kirks, but the Papists will say, The Lord hath done great things for them.

All that we desire, is: 1. That the Directory of Worship may be returned by our Brethren with all possible expedition, that it may be published here, and put in practise, as that which is extreamely longed for by the good People, and will be a remedy of the many differences and divisions about the Worship of God in this Kingdome, esspecially in this place: If there be any thing in it that displeaseth, let it be remonstrate upon irrefragable and convincing reason, otherwise ye will in your wisedome give approbation to it. 2. If there be any particular differences among some Brethren; which are not determined, but passed over in silence in the Directory, and yet hinted at in the Letter from the Assembly, we hope that in your wisedome ye will so consider of them, that they may be layde aside in due time, and that in the mean while, till the Directory be concluded and put in practice, there be no trouble about them, for that were as Snow in Summer, and as Rain in Harvest. We know nothing of that kinde, that all of us who love Unitie, Order, and Edification, may not perfectly agree in, without scandall or disturbance: And we beseech the Lord to keep that Kirk free of such Sects and Monsters of opinions, as are daily set on foot and multiplied in this Kingdome, through the want of that Church-government by Assemblies, which hath preserved us, and we hope, through the blessing of God, shall cure them. 3. Because Nationall Assemblies cannot frequently conveene, we humbly desire, that such a Commission may be settled as we may at all occasions till the Work be finished, have our recourse unto, for our direction and resolution: for we know both our own weaknesse: and the greatnesse of the Work: wherein we can promise no more but to be faithfull in obeying your commandments, as in the sight of God, whom with our Souls we pray, to grant you his Spirit, to guide you into all truth, And thus continue.

_Worcester house, Jan. 6. 1646._

_Your humble and faithfull Servants._

_Subscrib._ Alex. Henderson. Jo. Maitland. Sam. Rutherfurd.

DIRECT.

_For the Right Reverend the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of_ Scotland.

_The Letter from the Synode of Divines in_ England, _to the Generall Assembly._

_Right honourable, right reverend, and dearly beloved in the LORD JESUS,_

_As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far Countrey._ We your Brethren, yet remaining in the Furnace of affliction, and still labouring in the very fire, Have at length, by the good Hand of GOD upon us, attained so far toward the Mark at which we all aime, that we shall now send you, by two of your Reverend and Faithful Commissioners Mr _Robert Bailie_, and Mr _George Gillespie_ (our much honoured Brethren) some good news of that great Work, after which your zeal for Truth and Peace hath so much thirsted, and for which you _have not loved your lives unto the death._

Our progresse therein hath not been so expeditious as was desired and expected. This, unto such as either know not, or consider not, The weight and greatnesse of the Work, nor The manifold difficulties which have occurred to obstruct our proceedings in this day of darknesse and calamity (too sad to be expressed) hath been like unto _hope deferred_; _which makes the_ heart sick: Howbeit, we trust, _That when their desire_ (namely that which we have prepared, and are further in travell with) _shall come_ unto them, _It will be_, through God, _a Tree of life_, as to our great comfort and encouragement, we already perceive it to be to both the honourable Houses of Parliament.

Touching this severall Papers brought to us from your Honourable and Reverend Commissioners, by the hands of the Committee appointed to treat with them in matters of Religion (one of the Papers, being given in the 10. of November 1643. Concerneth the severall sorts of Church-officers and Assemblies: Another, bearing date the 24. of January 1643. Concerneth Congregationall Elderships, and Classicall Presbyteries: The other, being presented the 15. of August last, representeth the necessity of making greater speed in settling the intended Uniformity in Religion, according to the late solemne Covenant:) We hold it our duty, in regard both of the act and inseparable Union, which the Lord hath happily and seasonably made between you and us, and of your indefatigable and inestimable labour of love to this afflicted Kingdom, to give your Lordships and the rest of that Venerable Assembly, some brief account.

Concerning one Confession of Faith, and Forme of Catechisme, we make no question of a blessed and perfect harmony with you. The publick Doctrine, held out by our Church to all the World (especially when it shall be reviewed, which is in great part done) concurring so much with yours, may assure you of your hearts desire in those particulars, so soon as time and opportunity may give us liberty to perfect what we have begun.

The chief reason of laying aside the review of our publick Doctrine, after the happy and much desired arrivall of your Reverend Commissioners here, was, The drawing up and accelerating of a Directory for Worship, and of a Forme of Church-Government; in both of which we stood at a greater distance from other Reformed Churches of Christ, and particularly from yours (which we very much honour) with whom our solemne sacred Nationall Covenant requireth us to endeavour the nearest Conjunction and Uniformity, that we and our posterity after us, may as Brethren live in Faith and Love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us.

Nor have our labours there in been frustrate: For we have perfected and transmitted a Directory for Worship, to both Houses of Parliament; where it hath received such acceptance, that it is now passed in both the Honourable Houses of Parliament; which we hope will be to the joy and comfort of all our godly and dear Brethren in all His Majesties Kingdoms and Dominions.

We have not advised any imposition which might make it unlawfull to vary from it in any thing; Yet we hope, all our Reverend Brethren in this Kingdom, and in yours also, will so far value and reverence that which upon so long debate and serious deliberation hath been agreed upon in this Assembly (when it shall also passe with you, and be settled as the common publick Directory for all the Churches in the three Kingdomes) that it shall not be the lesse regarded and observed. And albeit we have not expressed in the Directory every minute particular, which is or might be either laid aside or retained among us, as comely and usefull in practice; yet we trust—that none will be so tenacious of old customs not expressely forbidden, or so averse from good examples although new, in matters of lesser consequence, as to insist upon their liberty of retaining the one, or refusing the other, because not specified in the Directory; but be studious to please others rather then themselves.

We have likewise spent divers moneths in the search of the Scriptures, to finde out the minde of Christ concerning a Forme of Church-government, wherein we could not but expect the greatest difficulty: For our better Progresse herein, wee have with all respect considered the severall Papers of your Honourable and Reverend Commissioners, touching this Head; and do with all thankfulnesse, acknowledge their great zeal, judgement, and wisdom expressed therein (as also, the excellent assistance and great furtherance of your Reverend Commissioners in this great Work; which now, through GODS goodnesse, is very near to a period also).

In pursuit whereof, we made a strict survey and scrutinie of every Proposition, that we might finde it agreeable to, and warranted by the Word of God, in a method of our own; without resting upon any particular modell or frame whatsoever already constituted: What we have performed, and how farre we have proceeded therein, we leave to the information of your Reverend Commissioners, who have been eye and ear witnesses of all that hath past, and we doubt not but you will shortly receive a satisfactory answer from hence, so soon as it shall be passed in the Honourable Houses of Parliament.

And now, Right Honourable, and right Reverend Brethren, let it not seem grievous that we have this long delayed the satisfying of your earnest and just expectation: It is the Lot of Jerusalem, to have her Wals built in troublous times, when there are many adversaries. Nor let it offend, that (albeit we acknowledge the many, great, and inestimable expressions of your love zeal, and helpfulnesse unto us every way in the day of our distresse, to be beyond all that we can in words acknowledge) we professe plainly to you, That we do most unwillingly part with those our Reverend and dear Fellow-labourers, your Commissioners, whom now you have called home, to render an account of their imployment here; which hath been so managed both by them and the rest of their Honourable and Reverend Colleagues, as deserveth many thanks, and all Honourable acknowledgement, not onely from us, but from you also.

Give us leave to adde, that the long experience we have had of the great sufficiency, integrity, and usefulnesse of them all, in the great Work of Christ our common Lord and Master, inforceth us (next to our greatest sute, continuance of your fervent prayers) to be earnest suiters, not onely for the continuance of these excellent helpers, Mr. _Alex Henderson_, and Mr. _Sam. Rutherfurd_, yet remaining with us, but also for the speedy return hither of our Reverend Brethren that are now going hence, for the perfecting of that Work which yet remains. And this sute we trust, you will the rather grant, because of the great and joint concernment of both Churches and Kingdoms in these matters.

Now the spirit of wisdom and of all grace rest upon you in all your great consultations, as at all times, so especially now when you shall be gathered together in the Name of the Lord Jesus, for the further building up and polishing of his Church; and cause the fruit of all your labour to be to the praise and glory of GOD, and the comfort and rejoycing of the hearts of all _the Israel of God_: He reward all our dear Brethren of that Sister Church and Nation manifold into their bosome, all the labours, love, and sufferings which they have afforded, and still do, cheerfully continue, for our sakes and the Gospels, in this distracted and bleeding Kingdom; suppresse all commotions and bloody practices of the common Enemy, in both, yea in all the three Kingdoms; set up the Throne of Jesus Christ, and make all the Kingdoms to be the Lords, and our Jerusalem to be a praise upon Earth, that all that love her and mourn for her, may rejoyce for joy with her, and may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolation.

_Westminster, Jan 6. 1644._

Subscribed by _Your most loving Brethren, and fellow labourers in the Work of the Lord, in the name of this whole Assembly,_

William Twisse, _Prolocutor_. Cornelius Burges, _Assessor_. John White, _Assessor_. Henry Robrough, _Scriba_. Adoniram Byfield, _Scriba_.

DIRECT.

_To the Right Honourable, and right Reverend, the Generall Assembly of the Church of_ Scotland, _these presents_

_28 Jan. 1645. Post meridiem. Die Martis._ Sess. 5.

_Approbation of the Proceedings of the Commission of the two preceding Assemblies._

The Generall Assembly, having heard the report of the Committee appointed to consider and examine the Proceedings of the Commissioners of the two last Generall Assemblies, _viz._ Of the Assemblies held in Edinburgh in the yeers 1643 and 1644. And after mature deliberation, and serious consideration thereof, Finding that the whole Acts, Proceedings, and Conclusions of the saids Commissioners contained in a Book and Register, subscribed by Mister _Andrew Ker_ their Clerk, and by Master _George Leslie_ Moderator, and Master _William Jaffray_, Clerk to the said Committee; Declare much wisedome, diligence, vigilancie, and commendable zeal; And that the saids Commissioners have orderly and formally proceeded in every thing according to their Commissions; Do therefore Ratifie and Approve the said whole Acts, Proceedings, and Conclusions of the Commissioners of the two Assemblies aforesaid.

_3. Februar. 1645. Die Lunæ, Post meridiem._ Sess. 10.

_Act of the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, for the establishing and putting in execution of the_ Directory _for the publick Worship of GOD._

Whereas an happy Unity and Uniformity in Religion amongst the Kirks of Christ in these three Kingdoms; united under one Soveraigne, hath been long and earnestly wished for by the godly and well-affected amongst us, was propounded as a main Article of the large Treaty, without which Band and Bulwark no safe well-grounded and lasting Peace could be expected; And afterward with greater strength and maturity, revived in the Solemne League and Covenant of the three Kingdomes; whereby they stand straitly obliged to endeavour the neerest Uniformity in one forme of Church-government, Directory of Worship, Confession of Faith, and forme of Catechising: Which hath also before and since our entring into that Covenant, been the matter of many Supplications and Remonstrances and sending Commissioners to the Kings Majestie, of Declarations to the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of _England_, and of Letters to the Reverend Assembly of Divines, and others of the Ministerie of the Kirk of _England_, being also the end of our sending Commissioners, as was desired from this Kirk, with Commission to treat of Uniformitie in the foure particulars afore-mentioned, with such Committees as should be appointed by both Houses of the Parliament of _England_, and by the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster: And beside all this, it being in point of conscience the chief motive and end of our adventuring upon manifold and great hazards, for quenching the devouring flame of the present unnaturall and bloody Warre in _England_, though to the weakning of this Kingdome within it self, and the advantage of the Enemy which hath invaded it, accounting nothing too dear to us, so that this our joy be fulfilled. And now this great Work being so far advanced, that a Directory for the publick Worship of GOD in all the three Kingdomes, being agreed upon by the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of _England_, after consultation with the Divines of both Kingdomes there assembled, and sent to us for our Approbation, that being also agreed upon by this Kirk and Kingdome of _Scotland_, it may be in the name of both Kingdomes presented to the King, for his Royal consent and Ratification. The General Assembly having most seriously considered, revised, and examined the Directory afore mentioned, after several publick readings of it, after much deliberation, both publickly, and in private Committees, after full liberty given to all to object against it, and earnest, invitations of all who have any scruples about it to make known the same; that they might be satisfied, Do unanimously, and without a contrary Voice, Agree to, and Approve the following directory, in all the Heads thereof, together with the Preface set before it: And doth require, decerne, and ordain, That according to the plain tenour and meaning thereof, and the intent of the Preface, it be carefully and uniformly observed and practised by all the Ministers and others within this Kingdome, whom it doth concerne; which practice shall be begun, upon Intimation given to the several Presbyteries, from the Commissioners of this General Assembly, who shall also take special care for the timeous Printing of this Directory, that a printed Copy of it, be provided and kept for the use of every Kirk in this Kingdome; Also that each Presbyterie have a printed Copy thereof for their use, and take special notice of the Observation or neglect thereof in every Congregation within their bounds, and make known the same to the Provincial or General Assembly, as there shall be cause. Provided alwayes, that the Clause in the Directory, of the Administration of the Lords Supper, which mentioneth the communicants sitting about the Table, or at it, be not interpreted, as if in the judgement of this Kirk, it were indifferent and free for any of the Communicants, nor to come to, and receive at the Table; or as if we did approve the distributing of the Elements by the Minister to each Communicant, and not by the Communicants among themselves. It is also provided, That this shall be no prejudice to the order and practice of this Kirk, in such particulars as are appointed by the Books of Discipline, and Acts of General Assemblies, and are not otherwise ordered and appointed in the Directory,

Finally, the Assembly doth with much joy and thankfulnes acknowledge the rich blessing and invaluable mercy of God, in bringing the so much wished for uniformity in Religion, to such a happy Period, that these Kingdoms once at so great distance in the form of Worship, are now by the blessing of GOD brought to a neerer Uniformity than any other Reformed Kirks, which is unto us the return of our Prayers, and a lightning of our Eyes, and reviving of our hearts, in the midst of our many sorrows and sufferings, a taking away in a great measure, the reproach of the People of GOD, to the stopping of the mouthes of Malignant and dis-affected persons, and an opening unto us a door of hope, that GOD hath yet thoughts of Peace towards us, and not of evil, to give us an expected end: In the expectation and confidence whereof we do rejoyce, beseeching the Lord to preserve these Kingdomes from Heresies, Schismes, Offences, Prophanesse, and whatsoever is contrary to sound Doctrine, and the power of Godlinesse, and to continue with us and the generations following, these his pure and purged Ordinances, together with an increase of the power and life thereof, To the glory of his great Name, the enlargement of the Kingdom of his Son, the corroboration of Peace and Love between the Kingdoms, the unity and content of all his People, and our edifying one another in love.

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_The_ Directory _for Worship, mentioned in the preceeding Act, needs not to be here printed, because it is to be printed in a Book by it self._

_7. February, 1645. Post meridiem._ Sess. 14.

_Overtures for advancement of Learning and good Order in Grammar Schools and Colledges._

I. That every Grammar School be visited twice in the year by Visitors, to be appointed by the Presbyterie and Kirk-Session in Landward Parishes, and by the Town-Councel in Burghs, with their Ministers; and where Universities are, by the Universities, with consent alwayes of the Patrons of the School, that both the fidelitie and diligence of the Masters, and the proficiencie of the Schollars in Pietie and Learning may appear, and deficiencie censured as well; And that the Visitors see that the Masters be not attracted by any other imployments, which may divert them their diligent attendance.

II. That for the remedie of the great decay of Poesie, and of abilitie to make Verse, and in respect of the common ignorance of Prosodie, no School-master be admitted to teach a Grammar School, in Burghs, or other considerable Paroches, but such as after examination, shall be found skilfull in the Latine Tongue, not only for Prose, but also for Verse; And that after other trials to be made by the Ministers, and others depute by the Session, Town, and Paroch for this effect, that he be also approven by the Presbyterie.

III. That neither the Greek Language, nor Logick, nor any part of Philosophie be taught in any Grammar School, or private place within this Kingdom, to young Schollers, who thereafter are to enter to any Colledge, unlesse it be for a preparation to their entrie there: And notwitstanding of any progresse, any may pretend to have made privately in these studies, yet in the Colledge hee shall not enter to any higher Classe, then that wherein the Greek Language is taught, and being entred, shall proceed orderly through the rest of the Classes, until he finish the Ordinary course of four years: Unlesse after due triall and examination, he be found equall in Learning, to the best or most part of that classe, to which he desires to ascend, by over-leaping a mid-Classe, or to the best or most part of those who are to be graduat, if he supplicate to obtain any degree before the ordinary time. And also, That there be found other pregnant reasons to move the faculty of Arts to condescend thereto; And otherwise that he be not admitted to the Degree of Master of Arts.

IV. That none be admitted to enter a Student of the Greek tongue in any Colledge, unlesse after triall he be found able to make a congruous Theame in Latine, or at least, being admonished of his errour, can readily shew how to correct the same.

V. That none be promoved from an inferiour Class of the ordinary course to a superiour, unlesse he be found worthy, and to have sufficiently profited: otherwise, that he be ordained not to ascend with his con-disciples, and if he be a Burser, that he lose his Burse. And namely, it is to be required, That those who are taught in _Aristotle_, be found well instructed in his Text, and be able to report in Greek, and understand his whole definitions, divisions, and principall precepts, so far as they have proceeded.

VI. Because it is a disgrace to Learning, and hinderance to Trades and other Callings, and an abuse hurtfull to the Publick, that such as are ignorant and unworthy, be honoured with a Degree or publick Testimony of Learning; That therefore such triall be taken of Students, specially of Magistrands, that those who are found unworthy, be not admitted to the Degree and honour of Masters.