Sess. VIII. 17 Aug. 1639. Act containing the Causes and Remedie of the bygone Evils of this Kirk.

THE Kings Majestie having graciously declared, That it is His Royal will and pleasure, that all questions about Religion, and matters Ecclesiasticall, be determined by Assemblies of the Kirk; having also, by publike Proclamation, indicted this free national Assembly, for settling the present distraction of this Kirk, and for establishing a perfect peace against such divisions and disorders as have been sore displeasing to his Majestie, and grievous to all his good Subjects. And now his Majesties Commissioner, John Earle of Traquair, instructed and authorized with a full Commission, being present and sitting in this Assembly, now fully conveened, and orderly constitute in all the members thereof, according to the order of this Kirk, having, at large, declared His Majesties zeal to the reformed Religion, and His Royal care and tender affection to this Kirk, where His Majestie had both His Birth and Baptisme, His great displeasure at the manifold distractions and divisions of this Kirk and Kingdome, and His desires to have all our wounds perfectly cured, with a fair and fatherly hand: And, although in the way approven by this Kirk, tryal hath been taken in former Assemblies before from the Kirk registers, to our full satisfaction, yet the Commissioners Grace, making particular enquiry from the members of the Assembly, now solemnly conveened, concerning the real and true causes of so many and great evils as this time past had so sore troubled the peace of this Kirk and Kingdome, It was represented to His Majesties Commissioner by this Assembly, That, beside many other, the maine and most materiall causes were, First, The pressing of this Kirk, by the Prelates, with a Service Book, or Book of Common Prayer, without warrand or direction from the Kirk, and containing, beside the Popish frame thereof, diverse Popish errors and ceremonies, and the seeds of manifold grosse Superstitions and Idolatry, with a Book of Canons, without warrand or direction from the Generall Assembly, establishing tyrannicall power over the Kirk, in the person of Bishops, and overthrowing the whole discipline and government of the Kirk by Assemblies, with a Book of Consecration and Ordination, without warrand of Authoritie, Civill or Ecclesiasticall, appointing offices in the house of God, which are not warranted by the word of God, and repugnant to the discipline and Acts of our Kirk, and with the High Commission, erected without the consent of the Kirk, subverting the jurisdiction and ordinary judicatories of this Kirk, and giving to persons meerely Ecclesiasticall, the power of both swords, and to persons meerly Civill, the power of the Keys and Kirk censures. A second cause was the Articles of Perth—viz., the observation of Festivall dayes, kneeling at the Communion, Confirmation, Administration of the Sacraments in private places, which are brought in by a null Assembly, and are contrary to the Confession of Faith, as it was meant and subscribed Anno 1580 and divers times since, and to the order and constitutions of this Kirk. Thirdly, the changing of the government of the Kirk, from the Assemblies of the Kirk, to the persons of some Kirk-men, usurping prioritie and power over their Brethren, by the way, and under the name of Episcopall government against the Confession of Faith, 1580, against the order set down in the Book of Policy, and against the intention & constitution of this Kirk from the beginning. Fourthly, the Civill places and power of Kirkmen, their sitting in Session, Councell, and Exchequer; their Riding, Sitting, and Voiting in Parliament, and their sitting in the Bench as Justices of peace, which, according to the constitutions of this Kirk, are incompatible with their spiritual function, lifting them up above their Brethren in worldly pompe, and do tend to the hinderance of the Ministrie. Fiftly, the keeping and authorizing corrupt Assemblies—at Linlithgow, 1606 and 1608; At Glasgow, 1610; At Aberdene, 1616; At S. Andrews, 16I7; at Perth, 1618—which are null and unlawfull, as being called and constitute quite contrary to the order and constitutions of this Kirk, received and practised ever since the reformation of Religion, and, withall, labouring to introduce novations into this Kirk, against the order and religion established. A sixth cause is, the want of lawfull and free Generall Assemblies, rightly constitute of Pastors, Doctors, and Elders, yearly or oftner, pro re nata, according to the libertie of this Kirk, expressed in the Book of Policy, and acknowledged in the Act of Parliament, 1592. After which the whole Assembly, in one heart and voyce, did declare, that these and such other, proceeding from the neglect and breach of the Nationall Covenant of this Kirk and Kingdome, made in Anno 1580, have been, indeed, the true and maine causes of all our evills and distractions. And, therefore, ordaine, according to the constitutions of the Generall Assemblies of this Kirk, and upon the grounds respective above specified, That the foresaid Service-Book, Books of Canons, and Ordination, and the high Commission, be still rejected: That the Articles of Perth be no more practised; That Episcopall Government, and the Civill places and power of Kirk-men, be holden still as unlawfull in this Kirk; That the above named pretended Assemblies—At Linlithgow, 1606 and 1608; At Glasgow, 1610; At Aberdene, 1616; At S. Andrews, 1617; At Perth, 1618—be hereafter accompted as null, and of none effect. And that, for preservation of Religion, and preventing all such evils in time coming, Generall Assemblies, rightly constitute, as the proper and competent judge of all matters Ecclesiasticall, hereafter be kept, yearly and oftner, pro re nata, as occasion and necessity shall require; The necessity of these occasionall Assemblies being first remonstrate to His Majestie, by humble supplication: As also that Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, and Synodall Assemblies, be constitute and observed, according to the order of this Kirk.

After the voycing of the Act, (anent the causes of our by-gone evils,) His Majesties Commissioner consented, verbally, to the said Act, and promised to give into the Clerk in writ, the Declaration of His consent, and that he should ratifie this Act in the ensuing Parliament.

Sess. XVIII. 26 Aug. 1639. Act approving an old Register of the Generall Assembly.

The whole Assembly, (upon the report made to them anent the old Register of the Assembly, gotten from Master John Rig,) all in one voice, approved the said Register, and ordained the same to make faith in judgement, and outwith in all time coming, as a true and authentick Register of the Kirk of Scotland, conforme to the testimonie subscribed by the Committee, to be insert in the Books of Assembly; whereof the tenor followeth:—

WE under subscribers, Forsameikle as the late Generall Assembly, holden at Glasgow, gave power and Commission to us, To peruse, examine, and cognosce upon the validitie, faith, and strength of the Books and Registers of the Assembly, particularly set down in the Commission given to us thereanent. According whereunto, we did carefully view, peruse, and consider the saids Registers, and gave our testimony thereof under our hands, of the validitie and sufficiencie of the samine, to the said Generall Assembly. And now, having a new Commission given to us from the Generall Assembly now presently conveened and sitting at Edinburgh, To peruse, examine, and cognosce upon the validitie, faith, and strength of another Register of the Assembly, which was not set down and recommended to us by the said former Commission, which Register beginneth at the Assembly holden at Edinburgh the sixth day of March 1572, and endeth at the Assembly likewise holden at Edinburgh 1573, we have carefully viewed, perused, and considered the said Register: And being deeply and maturely advised, as in a matter of greatest weight and consequence, doe attest before God, and upon our consciences declare to the world and this present Assembly, That the said Register above exprest, is a famous, authentick, and good Register, which ought to be so reputed, and have publik faith in judgement and outwith, as a valid and true Record in all things, And findis the same to be of the same handwrit, and subscribed by the same Clerk of the Generall Assembly, as divers of the said other Registers (formerlie perused by us) are. And, in testimonie of our solemne affirmation, we have subscribed these presents with our hands, at Edinburgh, the ________ day of August, 1639.

Act Sess. XIX. Aug. 27, 1639. Act approving the deposition of the Ministers by the Committees.

THE Assembly, after the receiving of the whole reports from the Committees, appointed for revising of the processes and sentences, led, deduced, and pronounced before, and by the severall Commissions granted by the Assembly at Glasgow, All in one voice approved the saids whole Processes as orderly proceeded, and the whole sentences pronounced thereintill, as just and lawfull decrees, without prejudice of any favour that can be showne to any person or persons, against whom the said sentences are pronounced upon their supplications, or of Justice to such as complaine of their processe, and offers to reduce the same upon whatsoever reason competent, by the Constitutions of this Kirk and Kingdome, before the Generall Assembly and the Commissioners thereof, they being appointed for that effect.

Act Sess. XX. 28 Aug. 1639. Act anent receiving of deposed Ministers.

THE which day, the Generall Assembly, upon the report of the Committees anent these who are deposed by Synods, Doe make this Generall Act, recommending to the Synods all these who are deposed before them for subscribing of the Declinator, and reading of the Service-book, and for no other grosse cause, That, upon their true repentance, and submission to the Constitutions of this Kirk, and upon their purgation and clearnesse from any grosse Faults laid to their charge in any new processe against them, they may be found by the Synods capable of the Ministerie, when God grants them an ordinary and lawfull calling by admission from the Presbyterie, either in the Church they served in before, or in any other Church.

Act Sess. XXI. 29 August 1639. Act anent the keeping of the Lords Day.

The Generall Assembly recommendeth to the several Presbyteries the execution of the old Acts of Assembly against the breach of the Sabbath Day, by going of Mylnes, Salt-Pannes, Salmond-fishing, or any such like labour; and, to this end, revives and reneues the Act of the Assembly holden at Haly-rude-house, 1602, Sess. 5, whereof the tenor follows:—

THE Assembly considering that the conventions of the People, specially on the Sabbath Day, are very rare in many places, by distraction of labour, not onely in harvest and seed-time, but also every Sabbath, by fishing both of white fish and Salmond-fishing, and in going of Mylnes. Therefore the Assembly dischargeth and inhibiteth all such labour of fishing, as well white fish and Salmond-fish, and going of Mylnes of all sorts upon the Sabbath, under the pain of incurring the censures of the Kirk: And ordaines the Commissioners of this Assembly to mean the same to His Majestie, and to desire that a pecuniall paine may be injoyned upon the contraveeners of this present Act.

Act Sess. XXII. 29 Aug. 1639. â meridie. Articles and Overtures approved by the Assemblie.

THAT some Commissioners be appointed to visit and peruse the whole Acts of Generall Assemblies, and to mark such Acts as are for the use of the Kirk in Generall, To extract the same out of the Registers, to the effect that after they be tryed, they may be printed according to the old Acts of the Assembly at Edinburgh, March 7, 1574, Sess. 9.

The Assemblie appoints the Presbyterie of Einburgh to have a care of this article, and to report their diligence to the next Assembly.

That course may be taken for restraining of people from passing to England to marry, which is the occasion of great inconveniences.

The Assembly alloweth this article, and recommends to the Parliament that they would appoint a pecuniall summe to be payed by the contraveeners.

That the Acts for furnishing expences to Commissioners, sent by the Presbyteries to the Generall Assembly, and sent in Commission by Generall Assemblies, may be explained; And it be declared that all such Commissioners whatsoever, by their stipends, may be furnished by the Kirks of the Presbyterie, according to the order set down in the Act of the last Assembly, since the errand is common, and the benefit concerneth all; and that order may be taken, how that an expedient voluntarie course, thought fit by the Assembly, shall, by advise of Parliament, have the force of a law, for compelling these to pay who are stented, both for the last and this Assembly, and in time to come.

The Assembly allowes this article, and referres the same to the Parliament.

That the Session-books of every Paroche be presented once a year to the Presbyteries, that they may be tryed by them.

The Assembly alloweth this article.

That the Act of the 38 Assembly at Edinburgh October 24, 1578, Sess. 8, ordaining Ministers who are deposed, to be charged, under the pain of excommunication, to dimit their places, that they may be unquestionably vacand, may now be renewed.

The Assembly alloweth this article, and remits the same to the Parliament.

The Assembly would revive or renew all former Acts of Assembly against Papists and excommunicate persons, against haunters with them, and receivers of them.

The Assembly alloweth this article.

That an uniforme Catechisme may be appointed to be used throughout this whole Kingdome, in the examinations before the Communion.

The Assembly alloweth this article.

That all Ministers or Intrants presented to Kirks, be tryed before their admission, if they be qualified for the places to which they are presented, besides the ordinary tryalls of Expectants before their entrie to the Ministerie.

The Assembly alloweth this Article.

Sess. XXIII. 30 Aug. 1639.

The Supplication of the Generall Assembly to the Kings Majesties Commissioner, concerning the Book, called “The Large Declaration.”

WEE, the Members of this present Assembly, for our selves, and in name of the severall Presbyteries, Burghs, and Universities for which we are Commissioners, resenting the great dishonour done to God, our King, this Kirk, and whole Kingdome, by the Book called “A Large Declaration,” have here represented the same to your Grace, and have collected some, amongst many, of false, grosse, and absurd passages; That, from the consideration thereof, your Grace, perceiving the intolerable evils foresaids contained therein, may be pleased to represent the same to our gracious Soveraigne, and in our behalfs humbly to beseech his Majestie, so much wronged by the many foul and false relations, suggested and perswaded to him as trueths, and by stealing the protection of His Royall Name and Authoritie to the patrocine of such a Book: To be pleased first to call in the said Book, and thereby to shew his dislike thereof: Next, to give Commission and warrant to cite all such parties as are either knowne or suspect to have had hand in it, and to appoint such as His Majestie knowes to be either authors, informers, or any wayes accessarie, being Natives of this Kingdome, To be sent hither to abide their tryall and censure before the Judge Ordinary, and in speciall Master Walter Balcanquell, now Deane of Durhame, who is known and hath professed to be the author, at least avower and maintainer of a great part thereof; that by their exemplar punishment, others may be deterred from such dangerous courses, as in such a way to raise sedition betwixt the King and His Subjects, Gods honour may be vindicate from so high contempt, His Majesties justice may appear, not only in cutting away such Malefactors, but in discouraging all such under-miners of His throne, His loyall and loving Subjects shall be infinitely contented to be cleared before the world of so false and unjust imputations, and will live hereafter in the greater securitie, when so dangerous a course of sedition is prevented, and so will have the greater and greater cause to pray for his Majesties long and prosperous Reigne.

His Majesties Commissioner in Councell having received the said Supplication, promised to impart the same to His Majesty, and to report his diligence therein.

The Supplication of the Assembly to His Majesties High Commissioner, and the Lords of Secret Councell.160

WEE, the Generall Assembly, considering, with all humble and thankfull acknowledgement, the manie recent favors bestowed on us by His Majestie, and that there rested nothing for crowneing his Majesties incomparable goodnes toward us, bot that all the members of this Kirk and Kingdom might be joyned in one and the same Confessions of Faith with God, with the Kings Majestie, and among ourselves: And conceiveing the main lett and impediment to this so good a worke, and so muche wished be all, to have beene the Informations made to his Majestie, of our intentions to shaike off Civill and dutiful obedience dew to Soverainity, and to diminish the Kings greatnes and authoritie, and being most willing and desyrous to remove this and all suche impediments, whiche may hinder and imped so full and perfyte an Union, and for cleiring of our loyaltie, WEE, in our names, and in name of all the rest of the Subjects and Congregations whome wee represent, doe now, in all humilitie, represent to your Grace, His Majesties Commissioner, and to the Lords of His Majesties most honourable Privie Counsell, and declare before God and the World, that we never had, nor have anie thought of with-drawing our selves from that humble and dutiful subjection and obedience to His Majestie and to his Government, which, by the descent and under the reign of 107 Kings, is most cheirfullie acknowledgit be us and our predecessors: And that we never had, nor have any intention or desire to attempt anie thing that may tend to the dishonour of God, or the diminution of the Kings greatnes and authoritie; But, on the contrary, acknowledging our quietnes, stabilitie, and happines to depend upon the safetie of the Kings Majesties Person, and maintenance of His greatnes and Royal authority, as Gods Vice-gerent set over us, for maintenance of Religion and ministration of Justice, We have solemnlie sworn and doe swear, not onlie our mutual concurrence and assistance for the caus of Religion, and to the uttermost of our power, with our meanes and lyves, to stand to the defence of our dread Soveraine, his Person and authoritie, in the preservation and defence of the said true Religion, Liberties, and Lawes of this Kirk and Kingdome, bot also in everie thing which may concerne His Majesties honor, sall, according to the Lawes of this Kingdome and dutie of good subjects, concurre with our friends and followers in quiet manner, or in armes, as wee sall be requyred of His Majestie, His Councell, or anie having his Authority. And, therefore, being most desyrous to cleir our selves of all imputation of this kynd, following the laudable example of our predecessors, in anno 1589, doe most humblie supplicat your Grace, His Majesties miasione, and the Lords of His Majesties most honourable privie Counsel, to enjoyne be Act of Counsell, that the Confession and Covenant, which, as a testimonie of our fidelitie to God, and loyaltie to our King, wee have subscrived, be subscrived be all His Majesties Subjects, of what ranke and quality soever.

The Act of the Lords of Councell at Edinburgh. August 30, 1639, containing the Answer of the preceding Supplication.

THE which day, in presence of the Lord Commissioner and the Lords of Privie Councell, compeired personally John Earle of Rothes; James Earle of Montrose; John Lord Lowdoun; Sir George Stirling of Keir, Knight; Sir William Douglas of Cavers, Knight; Sir Henry Wood of Bonytoun, Knight; John Smyth, Burgesse of Edinburgh; Mr Robert Barclay, Provest of Irwing; Mr Alexander Henderson, Minister at Edinburgh; and Mr Archbald Johnstoun, Clerk to the Generall Assembly; and, in the name of the present sitting Generall Assembly, gave in to the Lord Commissioner, and Lords of Privie Councell, the Petition above written; Quhilk being red, heard, and considerit be the said Lord Commissioner and Lords of Privie Counsell, they have ordainit, and ordains the samen to be insert and registrat in the books of Privie Counsell, and, according to the desyre thereof, ordains the said Confession and Covenant to be subscrived in tyme comeing, be all His Majesties Subjects of this Kingdome, of what ranke and qualitie soever.

The Kings Majesties Commissioners Declarations.

The which day His Majesties Commissioner and Lords of Councell, after the receiving of the Supplication of the Generall Assembly, anent the subscribing of the Covenant, having returned to the Assembly, His Majesties Commissioner, in name of the Councell, declared: That he had received the Supplication of the Assembly, desiring that the Covenant might receive the force of an Act of Councell, to be subscribed by all his Majesties Subjects, that they had found the desire so fair and reasonable, that they conceived themselves bound in duety to grant the same, and thereupon have made an Act of Councell to that effect, and that there rested now the Act of Assembly; and that he himself was so fully satisfied, that he came now, as his Majesty’s Commissioner, to consent fully unto it; and that he was most willing that it should be enacted here in this Assembly, to oblige all his Majesties Subjects to subscribe the said Covenant, with the Assemblies explanation. And because there was a third thing desired, His subscription, as the Kings Commissioner, unto the Covenant, which he behooved to do, with a Declaration in writ; and he declared, as a Subject, he should subscribe the Covenant as strictly as any, with the Assemblies Declaration; but as His Majesties Commissioner in his name he behoved to prefix to his subscription the Declaration following, which no Scots Subjects should subscribe or have the benefit of, no, not himself as Earle of Traquair. The tenor whereof follows:—

Seeing this Assembly, according to the laudable forme and custome heretofore kept in the like cases, have, in a humble and dutiful way, supplicate to us His Majesties Commissioner, and the Lords of His Majesties most honourable Privie Councell, That the Covenant, with the explanation of this Assembly, might be subscribed: And to that effect that all the subjects of this Kingdome, by act of Councell, be required to doe the same: And that therein, for vindicating themselves from all suspitions of disloyaltie or derogating from the greatnesse and authoritie of our dread Soveraigne, have therewith added a Clause, whereby this Covenant is declared one in substance with that which was subscribed by His Majesties Father of blessed memory, 1580, 1581, 1590, and oftner since renewed. Therefore I, as His Majesties Commissioner, for the full satisfaction of the Subjects, and for settling a perfect Peace in Church and Kingdome, doe, according to my foresaids Declaration and Subscription, subjoyned to the Act of this Assembly, of the date the 17 of this instant, allow and consent that the Covenant be subscribed throughout all this Kingdome. In witnes whereof I have subscribed the premisses.

Likeas his Majesties Commissioner, read and gave in the Declaration following, of his consent to the Act of the Assembly, 17 August, anent the causes of our by gone evils.

I, John Earle of Traquair, His Majesties Commissioner in this present Assembly, doe, in His Majesties Name, declare, that, notwithstanding of His Majesties own inclination, and many other grave and weightie considerations, yet such is His Majesties incomparable goodnesse, that, for settling the present distractions, and giving full satisfaction to the Subject, He doth allow, like as I, His Majesties Commissioner, doe consent to the foresaid Act, and have subscribed the premisses.

Likeas His Majesties Commissioner read and gave in the Declaration following:—

IT is alwayes hereby declared by me, His Majesties Commissioner, That the practise of the premisses, prohibited within this Kirk and Kingdome, outwith the Kingdome of Scotland, shall never bind nor inferre censure against the practises outwith the Kingdome; which, when the Commissioner required to be insert in the Register of the Kirk, and the Moderator, in name of the Assembly, refused to give warrant for such practise, as not agreeable with a good conscience, His Grace urged that it should be recorded, at least that he made such a Declaration, whatsoever was the Assemblies Judgement in the contrair: And so it is to be understood to be insert here onely vocitative.

Act ordaining the subscription of the Confession of Faith and Covenant, with the Assemblies Declaration.

THE Generall Assembly, considering the great happinesse which may flow from a full and perfect Union of this Kirk and Kingdome, by joyning of all in one and the same Covenant with God, with the Kings Majestie, and amongst our selves, having, by our great Oath, declared the uprightnesse and loyaltie of our intentions in all our proceedings, and having withall supplicated His Majesties high Commissioner, and the Lords of His Majesties honorable Privie Councell, to injoyn, by Act of Councell, all the Lieges in time coming to subscribe the Confession of Faith and Covenant, which, as a testimony of our fidelity to God and loyaltie to our King, we have subscribed: And seeing His Majesties high Commissioner, and the Lords of His Majesties honorable Privie Councell, have granted the desire of our Supplication, ordaining, by civill authority, all His Majesties Lieges, in time comming, to subscribe the foresaid Covenant, that our Union may be the more full and perfect, We, by our Act and Constitution Ecclesiasticall, doe approve the foresaid Covenant in all the Heads and Clauses thereof, and ordaines of new, under all Ecclesiasticall censure, that all the Masters of Universities, Colledges, and Schooles, all Schollers at the passing of their degrees, all persons suspect of Papistry, or any other errour, and, finally, all the members of this Kirk & Kingdome, subscribe the same with these words prefixed to their subscription: “The Article of this Covenant, which was, at the first subscription, referred to the determination of the Generall Assembly, being determined, and thereby the five Articles of Perth; the government of the Kirk by Bishops; the civill places and power of Kirkmen, upon the reasons and grounds contained in the Acts of the Generall Assembly, declared to be unlawfull within this Kirk: we subscribe according to the determination foresaid.” And ordaines the Covenant, with this Declaration, to be insert, in the Registers of the Assemblies of this Kirk, Generall, Provinciall, and Presbyteriall, ad perpetuam rei memoriam; and, in all humility, supplicates His Majesties high Commissioner, and the honourable Estates of Parliament, by their authoritie to ratifie and injoyne the same, under all civill paines, which will tend to the glory of God, preservation of Religion, the Kings Majesties honour, and perfect peace of this Kirk and Kingdome.

Aug. 30. 1639. Act anent Appellations.

THE Assembly appointed, that, in all time hereafter, no Appellations should be, leaping over either Presbyterie or Synod, but to ascend by degrees as from the Kirk Session to the Presbytry, or from the Presbyterie to the Synod, and from the Synod to the Generall Assembly, except it be after the Synod be past, and immediatly before the Generall Assembly, or in the time thereof, and renewes all former Acts made to this effect.

Act anent advising with Synods and Presbyteries before determination in Novations.

THE Generall Assembly, considering that the intended Reformation being recovered, may be established, Ordaines, that no Novation which may disturb the peace of the Church, and make division, be suddenly proponed and enacted: But so as the motion be first communicate to the severall Synods, Presbyteries, and Kirks, that the matter may be approved by all at home, and Commissioners may come well prepared, unanimously to conclude a solide deliberation upon these points in the Generall Assembly.

Act anent Ministers Catechising, and Familie Exercises.

THE Assembly, considering that the long-waited-for fruits of the Gospel, so mercifully planted and preserved in this Land, and the Reformation of our selves and Families, so solemnly vowed to God of late in our Covenant, cannot take effect, except the knowledge and worship of God be carried from the Pulpit to every family within each Parish, hath therefore appointed, that every Minister, besides his paines on the Lords day, shall have weekly catechising of some part of the Paroch, and not altogether cast over the examination of the people till a little before the Communion. Also, that in every Familie the worship of God be erected, where it is not, both Morning and Evening, and that the Children and Servants be catechised at home, by the Masters of the Families, whereof accompt shall be taken by the Minister, and Elders assisting him in the visitation of every Family: And, lest they fail, that visitation of the severall Kirks be seriously followed by every Presbyterie, for this end among others. The execution and successe whereof, being tryed by the Synods, let it be represented to the next Generall Assembly.

Sess. XXIV. 30. Aug. à meridie. The Assemblies Supplication to the Kings Majestie.

Most Gracious Soveraigne,

WEE, Your Majesties most humble and loyall Subjects, the Commissioners from all the parts of this your Majesties ancient and native Kingdome, and members of the Nationall Assembly, conveened at Edinburgh by your Majesties speciall indiction, and honoured with the presence of Your Majesties High Commissioner, have been waiting for a day of rejoycing, and of solemne Thanksgiving to be rendred to God by this whole Kirk and Kingdome, for giving us a King so just and religious, that it is not only lawfull for us to be Christians under Your Majesties government, which sometime hath been the greatest praise of great Princes, but also that it hath pleased Your gracious Majestie to make known that it is Your Royall will and pleasure, that all matters Ecclesiasticall be determined in free Nationall Assemblies, and matters civill in Parliaments; which is a most noble and ample expression of Your Majesties justice, and we trust shall be a powerfull meane of our common happinesse under your Majesties most blessed Raigne. In the mean while we doe most humbly, upon the knees of our hearts, blesse your Majestie for that happinesse already begun in the late Assembly at Edinburgh, in the proceedings whereof, next under God, we have laboured to approve our selves unto Your Majesties Vice-gerent, as if Your Majesties eyes had been upon us, which was the desire of our soules, and would have beene the matter of our full rejoycing, and doe still continue Your Majesties most humble supplicants for Your Majesties civill sanction and ratification of the constitutions of the Assembly in Parliament: That your Majesties Princely power, and the Ecclesiasticall Authority, joyning in one, the mutual embracements of religion and justice, of truth and peace, may be seene in this Land, which shall be to us as a resurrection from the dead, and shall make us, being not only so farre recovered, but also revived, to fill Heaven and Earth with our praises, and to pray that King CHARLES may be more and more blessed, and His throne established before the Lord for ever.

THE Assembly appoints the next Generall Assembly to sit at Aberdeene the last Tuesday of July next, 1640 years. And warneth all parties, Universities, and Burrows, to send their Commissioners, for keeping the samine. And thereafter the Assembly was concluded by giving of thanks by the Moderator, and singing of a Psalme, according to the custome.

FINIS.