Records of the Kirk of Scotland / containing the Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies from 1638 downwards, as authenticated by the clerks of assembly.

by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

Sessio 3.—August 14, 1639.

After in calling upon the name of God, the Moderatour asked the Commissioner if his Grace had any thing to say to this Assembly?

The Commissioner answered—I am sory to say any thing that may breed jealousie—farre lesse miscontent in any mans mynd: yet I must say that agane which I said yesterday in generall; and I desire that everie bodie that heares me, and in particular the honourable and reverend Members of this Assembly, may believe that what I doe in this kinde, is not out of a intention to delay or protract tyme; but surelie the great and weightie charge I am entrusted with,—secondlie, the short tyme I have had to consider of the instructiones given to me of my Master,—thirdly, the sense of my oune weaknes; and I may adde a fourth—some distemper of my bodie—that I must begg the allowance of this day—not for any delay or protracting of tyme, but that, after mature consideration on all hands, we may all sing ane sang before this Assemblie end; and, having obtained this short tyme for consideration of my instructions, I must then begg a second favour, that the Moderatour, and some other with him, may spend some tyme with me this afternoone, that so thinges may be the better digested, and I more able to give satisfaction in everie thing that can be expected.

The Moderatour said—My Lord Commissioners Grace gives us to understand that the Kings mynd is peace toward this Church, and least we should speake and not understand one another, and stumble in the entrie of this bussines, his Grace requyres that this day may be given for consideration of the instructions receaved from His Majestie, and that some of this number that ye thinke good, with me may attend his Grace, that one of us mistake not anothers language; and it shall be our pairt to deall with God to show we a right way, that fra there is ane ayme at peace we may follow the best way for attaining of it, and for preservation of it heirafter: for if our way be good as weell as our matter, it can bring no miscontent: but if we marr in either, we may breid much. Therefore, let us suspend our judgments in every thing our mynd might have thoughts about; for this is a tender bussinesse; and it shall be our wisdome to suspend our judgments till every particular speake for itself; and since on all hands we professe peace, so let every mans particular cariage declair the same: so shall trueth and peace and every mans particular cariage get the oune true approbation.

The Commissioner said—I believe it is scairse expected from me that I should adde to or confirme that which ye have said, seeing its propper for yow to speake. Your place carries yow to it, and your gifts gives yow abilitie for it. The place I am in is to heare and doe that duetie which is to be expected from a gracious Prince. Yet I may say thus much without wronging any trust my Master hath put upon me, to second that yow have said—to witt—if men come without prejudicat mynds—if men come impartiall, with a mynd to acquiesce to reason when reason shall be offered, and to imbrace trueth when the way of trueth is layd open with the soundnes of mynd, and with that reverence and respect which may be expected from good Christians and good subjects, and which their oune place will beare to soveraignitie and lesse then which can never be expected from good subjects: I say if men come so, I hope the conclusion may be beyond the expectation of us all, and beyond the desyre of some that all shall tend to peace, and such a peace as hes trueth for the companion of it, against to-morrow.

The Moderatour asked the opinion of some of the Members of the Assemblie, whether the Commissioner his Grace his desire was most reasonable?

My Lord Argyle said—I know that it is the profession and desire of us all to have all this bussines settled in a fair way; and since the Commissioner his Grace hath given ws good hopes of it, I thinke it were ane ill interruption of it to refeuse to his Grace any thing of this kynd.

The Moderatour desired that, if any of the Assembly thought otherwayes, they would tell their mynd—for we think verilie (said he) that one dayes good advysement may save us many dayes paines, and the spending of this day in thinking upon the best meanes how we may wind to our good ends, may be like money lent out for double annuell. To the which the Assembly willinglie assented.

Added to the Commission for the Billes—Mr Wᵐ Douglas, Mathow Brisbane, &c., to meet at the Parliament House at 6 in the morning and 6 at night: and so the Assemblie dismissed for this dyet.