Chapter 23

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._