My Lord Erskine, before the Assemblie, and, with teares, did regrait his so long refusall to subscryve the Covenant, and was now most willing, with heart and hand, to subscryve it, if the Assemblie would be pleased to accept of him: the seeing and hearing whereof caused no small matter of joy to the whole Assembly; acknowledging, with admiration, the wonderfull Providence of God—that some had deserted and gone from them, so uthers were sent unto them. To encourage them there were also, at that tyme, four or five uthers, some whereof had been in uther countries, in tyme past, who all did enter in ane Covenant with joy to themselfes and the whole Assembly. After which, the voites of all the Assembly were craved by the Moderatour—Whether they would adhere unto their Protestation newlie red, or continow to the end of the Assembly now discharged?
All and everie ane of the Assemblie except six or seven, declaired solemnlie, that, with all their heart, they adhered unto their Protestation, and promised to continow till this Assembly, after the settling of all matters, be dissolved be commoun consent of the Members.
The Moderatour, having renewed the question againe, Whether they found themselves lawfull and competent Judges to the pretendit Bishops and Archbishops of this Kingdome, and the Complaints given in against them and their adherents, notwithstanding of their declinatour and protestation? The whole Assemblie, except four, declared this Assemblie to be most lawfull and competent Judges to the pretendit Bishops and Archbishops of this Kingdome.
The Moderatour having called upon the name of God, this Session dismissed.
Sess. 8.—Novʳ 29, 1638.
Moderatour—I must intreat yow, honourable and welbeloved, to consider yow are in the sight of God, who not only requires inward reverence, but also outward respect; becaus these who hath beene our old adversaries, and hath now declaired themselves to be so, hath spoken reproachfullie against this Generall Assembly, especially becaus of the tumultuous carriage of the Members thereof, when they speake concerning the suffrages—the voits of the Members of the Assembly. But that no such occasion may be given to them heirafter, let your carriage be grave as in the sight of God. Keep yourselfes quyet; becaus ye ought to have your judgements exercised about the matter in hand, and elevating your mynds to God to send downe light; and, when he sends downe a good motion, ye may expresse it with gravitie, and that two or thrie speake with leive—not that I assume any thing to my selfe, but I am bold to direct yow in that, wherein I have the consent of your owne mynd.
After in calling upon the name of God,
The Moderatour uttered these words:—The Assemblie is not fullie constitut—not that I call the lawfullnes of it in question, for the authoritie of it is manifest—but let us leave nothing undone that is necessar for the constitution thereof. There are some Commissions controverted, quhilks are not yet discussed; therefore let the Committies delyver their papers, and tell their judgements.
Then the Clerk called the Committie of Peibles.
Moderatour said—Have ye found these Commissions good and valide enough?