Mr Alexʳ Hendersones Speache.
Surely so many of us as consider any thing of the wayes of God toward us, and the conscience of our owne guiltinesse, may verily say, its of the mercies of God that we are not consumed: ffor we deserve no lesse than that. The Lord had mercie on us, and brought us ance togither before, after many defections and grosse backslydings, and vouchsafed the testimony of his divine presence very sensiblie upon us, which should never be forgotten of us whilst we live. This is another mercie that the Lord hath been pleased, after so many troubles and tempests, hazarding all church and kingdome, familie, persone, and estates, that he should grant us this calme and comfortable day to meete in, and that we have his libertie, under the protection of our sacred Soveraigne, the Kings Majestie. And now when we are assembled together, and hath all thinges externall in libertie and freedome, without any apparent danger for ought that we know, is there no more adoe? Yea truelie: though all the worthiest of this kingdome were here assembled, (as I thinke a great pairt of them be,) yet if the Lord do not vouchsafe his presence upon us, our meeting shall be in vaine, and better it had beene for us not to have mett. Therefore let us request the Lord to remove these illes farre from us, that hath deserved he should desert us; and that he may looke comfortablie upon us, and that our soules may rejoyce in his presence, we may have matter of praise to render to him, and matter of comfort to our soules and the establishment of peace to this kirk and kingdome.
After in calling upon the name of God, the Moderatour desyred these that were authorized with commissions from Presbyteries, Universities, and other incorporations, to produce the same.
John, Earle of Traquair, Commissioner for the Kings Majestie.
The name of the Commissioners from Presbitries, Burghes, and Universities, as followes, &c. [Not inserted in M.S.]
After the production of the several commissions, the Kings Commissioner desyred that the tyme of their meeting might be condiscendit upon; and whether it were convenient to have two sessions a day or not?
It was thought expedient to meete tomorrow at ten o’clocke, and that tomorrow there should be but one sessione, and thereafter to be taken to the Assemblies consideration, if convenientlie two sessions could be keipt.
Mr John Robertsone, and Mr Robert Murray appoynted to nominat some ministers to preache all the weake, and to give their names tomorrow.
Sess. 2.—Hora Decima.
August 13, 1639.
After in calling upon the name of God, the Kings Majesties Commissioner produced the Commission, which being red in face of the Assembly, the Commissioner his Grace desyred it might be insert in the Bookes of the Assembly, the tenor whereof followeth—“Carolus, Dei Gratia,” &c.
The Commissioners Grace declaired, that howsoever there was in him great weaknes and insufficiencie for so weightie a charge, yet he hoped that he should make knowen unto the Assembly his Majesties grace and goodnes in that ingenuous way as should give satisfactione to all, and that not in a superficiall and complimentary way; but since his Master had honoured him so farre, he desyred that (though his weaknes, for want of experience, might make him sometymes silent when it was fitting to speake, and other tymes to speake out of purpos,) the goodnes and wisdome of the reverend members might supplie his inlakes.
The Moderatour answered—There is none of us can bragg of our experience, becaus of the want of Assemblies this long tyme agoe; but we hope within twenty yeares our experience shall be greater.
Moderatour said—Please your Grace, the antient and laudable custome of Assemblies hath beene, that he that was Moderatour of the last Assemblie should propose a list of names, of the which number a new Moderatour may be chosen.
The Commissioner answered—I perceive no prejudice in that forme, since ye allow that if my Master have anything to say against these or to add to them.
The Moderatour craved libertie before the list was red to preface thus much—that since it was not possible to put all the worthies that were present on a list, therefore no man would take any offence.
| The List of the Names for a Moderatour. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Wᵐ Livingstoun, | Mr Andro Cant, | |
| Mr David Dick,[232] | Mr Alexander Somervell. | |
| Mr James Bonar, | ||
The Moderatour asked the Commissioner, if his Grace had any thing to except against these, or if his Grace had any other whom he would adde to them?
The Commissioner answered—I have so charitable, yea, so Christian an opinion, that I believe none can come heir but with the intention and resolution that yow have so often expressed, looking to nothing but to Gods glorie and next to the Kings honour. Not that I have prejudice against any that are here—surely none—but considering my Masters directions are so faire and so plaine, that I believe, as he intends nothing but settleing of trueth and freeing us of feares that we might be possessed with, either for novation in religion or lawes: so I believe, yea I expect and am confident, that everie man that comes heir resolves to carry himselfe with that integritie as in the eyes of God, to whom they must make answer; and as standing to doe that duetie which in the second parte belongs to our graceous Soveraigne: for myselfe, I may know some men by acquaintance, and thereupon may have opinion; but I attest God I have no prejudice against these on the list, nor any that are here; yet I desire that yow yourselfe Moderatour may be both added to the list and may be Moderatour still; and this I desire for no other end but because I believe it may contribute much to the worke in hand. Howsoever, I submitt myselfe to the judgement of the rest.
The Moderatour answered—If your Grace had continowed in the last Assemblie, your Grace might have seene as much of my weaknes made manifest at that tyme as should have beene a sufficient prevention of listing me at this tyme. I trust I shall not neid to speake much. I have enough if I be prest with it, whereby I shall make it manifest to this whole meeting, that I cannot be continowed in this place.
The Commissioner said—I doe insist in this for no other end truelie but that I have alreadie said. Since I am requyred to delyver my opinion, I may doe it upon my knowledge; and I doubt nothing but if the gifts and worthe of many reverend men who are here were knowen unto me, but it might be I should voice with them; but truely, by my insisting for this, I feir I wrang the end I goe about, and I know not weill how to expresse myselfe in it, and safe myselfe from seeming to give ground of feires of that I seeke to eschue, to witt, that I am free of prejudice. Alwayes I name the Moderatour for no other end (as God shall save me) but becaus I thinke him both ane honest man and ane able man, and I thinke this doeth nather establische a constancie of Moderatours nor open a doore to it; for though our Judgments doe now find yow to be the man whom we inclyne to, yet since it is not the freedome of voiceing, I thinke yow have no more interest in it then any upon the list; and if I now urging this as a priviledge due to my Master, or if I were urging that my nominating of ane should make the Moderatour, it were much; but let everie Member of the Assemblie consider of it, and of everie readie way to facilitat this matter in hand; for if I knew any man so able to supplie that roume as the Moderatour, certainlie I should name him.
The Moderatour answered—By your Graces Speache, some may take great advantage to thinke that your Grace doeth contradict his Majesties late Declaration;[233] becaus its said there, yow may verie well judge what could be wiselie done in that Assembly when they had such an ignorant Moderatour: and now your Grace giving me such a large testimonie, doeth directlie contradict his Majesties printed Declaration. But I correct myselfe. I trust it shall be found not to be his Majesties Declaration.
The Commissioner answered this with silence.
The Moderatour after added—We have great reason to blesse our God and to give humble and heartie thankes to the Kings Majestie for this peaceable and free Assemblie; but we have so many jealousies upon the Usurpation of the Prelats in tyme past, that in trueth at the very first we scarre and are so affrayed, that we darre not meddle with any thing of that kynd. It savours of a constant Moderatour—the first step of Episcopacie; and, in trueth, I have not a mynd to be a Bishop.
Ye might have bein ane.
It was questioned if the former Moderatour could be ane in the new list?
Mr John Row said he had seene Assemblies this 5O yeares, and, to his judgement, he never saw it that the Moderatour of the former Assemblie was put on the list with these that were to be Moderatour the next Assemblie; nevertheless, it was instanced out of the Assemblie Bookes, that the same Moderatour have been sometymes continued Moderatour of the next Assemblie.
It was condescendit upon that Mr Alexʳ Hendersone should be added to the list. The list was read and the rolles called, and Mr David Dick was chosen Moderatour by the farr greatest part of the voices, who after the acknowledgement of his owne weaknes imbraced the office; and having a calling from God and the honourable Assembly. Mr Alexʳ Henrysone, randering most heartie thankes to the Assemblie for their charitable construction of his weaknes, and wishing that no man should faygne any abilitie unto himselfe, dimitted his place.
Mr David Dick, Moderatour, his Speach.
The Moderatour, at his first entrie to the place, had this preface. This is more than we durst have craved of God, if we had looked to our oune deserving; but since it hath beene His Majesties pleasure who rules heaven and earth, to looke upon our Gracious King; and move his heart to grant this freedome, we have reasone all of us to acknowledge Gods mercie to his Majestie and to us, and to acknowledge his Majesties goodnes, and to make verie welcome your Grace who is to represent his Majestie; and I trust this Assembly will allow me verie weill to give thankes to the Moderatour who served in this roume last, who, whatsoever you thought or said, God magnified himselfe in yow, and made your honestie and the caus in your hand cleare to many; and to those to whom ye were most calumniat, so that both the Kings Commissioner and Councell have seene that yow have beene seeking God onlie, and no other thing—and the Lord bless yow! Now, as the Commissioner spacke verie fitlie that jealousies and suspitions would be farr away, becaus they are contrare to the designes professed by His Majestie, and whereof we have this evidence; and contrare to the designes of ws ministers, who ought to be ministers of peace, ayming at nothing but Gods glorie and the weill of his Church: Therefore let us labour by all meanes to get owr hearts single; becaus in so doing owr God will helpe us. And first, to thinke of overtures, how we may extirpat all grounds of suspition and jealousie which might be in brethrens hearts, becaus of the differences of judgments about the discipline of the Church, and that ceremonies that she has beene troubled with, may be turned in perpetuall oblivion. And seeing there is in us ane mynd and heart toward God and peace, let us think upon some overtures, how we may open the bosome of this Kirk to all these who are penitent, or in any measure sensible of their misdeservings, (no these who deserves most expected, if the Lord gives them repentance), seeing we are these who professed ourselves to be men seeking God, trueth, and peace. Yea thirdlie, let us give evidence that we are single hearted toward these that are of a contrare religion, and that we have no mynd to insnare them, or handle them so as their owne consciences, upon their owne grounds could say, considering our rules, but rather how we shall get them informed of their scruples, heard, attendit, and waited upon, and by all meanes their mynds brought to this poynt of conviction that they know nothing but God and their owne salvation, and all in a very moderat maner.
The Tryell of the Commissions.
After this the Assembly proceidit to the tryell and examination of the Commissions; and the Moderatour desyred that if the Commissioner his Grace, or any Member of the Assembly had anything to object against the validitie or formalitie of the Commissions, that they would make declaration of the same.
[Commissioner] answered—I believe I shall be glad that there shall be few contrare opinions—yea, few contests anent the election of Commissioners at this tyme, and such is my gracious Masters desyre to have everie thing caried in a fair, calm, and peaceable way at this Assembly; for all his commands runnes thus, that in anything that should concerne him, I should give good example and begin, so that though I might object severall informalities, yet so desyrous is our Master of peace, that I only remonstrat it to yow to take it to your consideration. And for me, surely it shall be a very great informalitie which shall make me interrupt so good a worke.
The Moderatour said—We are glad to heare from your Grace expressions of peaceable intentions; yet becaus something of that kinde may reflex upon our proceeding, therefore we should be glad to heare your Grace name these exceptions; for we desyre not to be pardoned in a thing wherein we may be mended; if there be reason to approve them, let them be approven; and if there be reason to cast them, let them be casten.
The Commissioner said—I conceave there are grounds to cast elections—as, for example, I conceave that, in the choosing of Commissioners from Presbitries or Presbitrie, if it appeare that there have been moe Lay Elders then Ministers, I should not think it formall. Secondlie, if there be a Commissioner chosen where he never had his residence, and, consequentlie, where he is not ane Elder, I thinke it not formall. Thirdly, if any man be chosen Lay Elder, and yet not chosen Commissioner from that place where he is Elder, I think it not formall. Fourthlie, if a man be chosen laick Elder in ane place, and after reside in another place and be chosen there, I thinke that not formall. Fifthlie, if a man be a rebell and at the Kings horne, I cannot thinke his electione formall. These and many other of this kynde doe I represent unto your consideratione.
The Moderatour answered—Please your Grace: It wer a spending of lang tyme to dispute the question in generall. But if it please your Grace, either by yourselfe or by any other, to nominat these Commissioners against whom the exception is, and in their persone to dispute the question, and so either admit them upon reason or reject them upon reason; ffor we professe we will tollerat no man against whom there is a just exception wherefore he should not heare be a Commissioner: therefore, when it comes to the particular, let the exception be nominat, and it shall be purged some way or els the man removed: therefore, if there be any within this house who hes any thing to object against the formalitie of the election of Commissioners, let them declair the same; utherwayes we will hold our silence for ane approbation of all.
After the Commissioners wer approven by the whole Assembly,
The Moderatour said—The Assemblie is now constitut and the Members found perfyte: The Lord give a blessing unto it! Therefore, if your Grace have any thing to say, it is now a fullie constitut Assembly, and the Judicatorie sett.
The Commissioner answered—I did not expect so great expedition; but I am glad that yow take to your wise consideration all meanes that may facilitat so good a worke; and since, as I was saying, in generall I am to communicat his Majesties mynd to this Assembly, which I hope shall give satisfactione to all, I must first communicat to some in privat, that so it may be the better digested for publict audience; therefore I desire that any thing materiall may be forborne this day, and that if there be any matter of lesse importance, they may now be dispatched. To the which the Assembly acquiesced.
The Moderatour craved, that, in respect he was put upon the toppe of the bussinesse, and made the mouthe of the Assembly, that whatsoever might contribute to the good of the worke, they would not only all be willing in generall but in speciall, to communicat to his assistance as a servant of the house, and, for that end, that libertie might be granted to him to joyne some assessours to himselfe, as, namely, the Earles Argyle, Rothes, Eglintoun, Montrois, my Lord Lowdoun: Ministers—Mr Alexʳ Henrysone, Androw Ramsay, Harry Rollock, John Ker, David Lindsay, Robert Douglas, William Livingstone: Commissioners or laick Elders—the Lairds of Haughtone, Moncreiff, Auldbarre, Wedderburne.
This was refeused to be past in Act; but the Assembly granted to the Moderatour to crave their assistance in privat, with the Commissioner his Graces consent.
The Assembly, for the greater facilitating of bussines, did appoynt a Commission for receaving of Billes that were to be given in to the Assembly, namely: Ministers—Masters David Lindsay, Robert Douglas, Andro Fleck, William Jamesone, Frederick Carmichell, David Monro, George Leslie: Elders—the Earle of Cassilles, my Lord Burlie, my Lord Johnstoun, Lairds of Fentrie, Keir, Dundas, Provest of Dumbartoun.
Item, another Commission for reportes of references from the last Assembly: Ministers—Mr John Robertsone, Robert Murrey, James Edmestoune, Alexʳ Petrie, Thomas Mitchell, &c.
The Assembly, with consent of the Commissioners Grace, did condescend, becaus of the shortnes of tyme betwixt and the ensuing Parliament, that there should be two Sessions a day—the first at 9 a clock—the second at 3 a clock in the afternoone, and the sermon to goe in at 7 a clock in the morning.