Mr James Bonar said—He called on all these first that he knew would voite with them, for he had a croce upon all their names, and lykewayes he said that a number of voites should not doe the turne, for these articles should be proclaimed at the Croce by sound of trumpet.
Mr James Cunninghame said—When I desyred Zancheus to be produced for a testimonie, all the Bishops said the King was more learned than ten thousand Zancheus; and he threatened continuallie with banishment, imprisonment, and deprivation; and they put all their names together whom they knew would voite for them, and resolved to gar them goe all in a hurle together, quhilk they did quhill Mr John Martine turned the chase, and this they did to weaken the hands of many.
The Moderatour said—There would be a Committie appointed for the considering of these Assemblants, for it is a poynt of no small importance.
The names of the Committie—
Earle of Home, Lords Sinclare, Yester, Balmerino, Coupar, Cranstoun.
George Gordoune, Mr Thomas Ker, Lamington, Barclay, James Sword, George Jamesone, Thomas Durie, Androw Baird, Mr John Robisone, John Maitland, Mr James Scharpe, Richard Ingles, Gilbert Murray, Wᵐ M‘Kenzie, John Rae, John Robertsone, John Ker.
Sessio 10.—Primo Decembris 1638.
After prayer, the Moderatour said—Ye know a great pairte of these affaires to be agitat this day, was committed to some worthie men upon a Committie, to be presented to your view—such as the Confession of Faith, the Complaint against the Prelats, the matters of the Service Booke, the auctoritie, or null auctoritie of the Assemblies; and we tooke this little tyme to heare some particular complaints against some ministers, especiallie these who have their proces closed alreadie, in a manner, and nothing left but the sentence and determination of the Assembly; for they must be viewed by you. We should do nothing without a warrand; and I doubt not but ye are better acquainted with the warrand and ground of our proceedings nor I can expresse. Ye knowe there is no familie, nor hous, nor republick—no citie, no kingdome, or corporation—nor any humane societie, that can subsist without order; and, in the midst of the world, where the Divell is opposing, and corruption mightilie working, we may be assured that the integritie of the Word of God cannot stand without Government and ecclesiasticall discipline. Our Lord gives it the name of the Keyes of the kingdome of Heaven—a glorious name, indeed; and the Apostle, 1. Cor. 5., calls it a power committed to the Kirk, not for destruction, but for edification. In the nature of it, it is not so much magisteriall as ministeriall power; and, though the power be great it is principally in his hand who is Lord and Master of the house—the Son of God, who hes absolute power; and we are but his ministers and servants. Ye know it is requyred in a servand, and especiallie in a steward, (and we are called stewards and dispensatoures of the misteries of God,) that they be found faithfull. We must stryve to approve our selves in the Masters sight, who is sett over the house. The power committed to us is very great, if we consider the effects of it. Mathew, ch. 18. the effects of it are set downe. If we proceed in sentenceing of a man, especiallie if we goe on that far as to excommunicat him, he against whom the sentence is pronouncit, is counted a publican; or, if ye looke the Apostles word—more: he is given over to the hands of the Divell: he is put out of the Kirk; and, although it be horrible to think on such a thing, yet the fruites of it are sweet—for God heirby is glorified; for surelie, in despyte of the world and the Divell, he will be sanctified of these that drawes neare him. The terrible example of Nadab and Abihu is a sufficient document of this. Ye know the Word and the Sacraments are holy and sufficient meanes to convey grace. They should be purged of inventions that men hes put upon them; and sicklyke that Gods house should be purged of scandall and leaven, and these also against whom the sentence passes, if they be not in a damnable caise and incorrigible, it serves for the subdueing of the fleshe and wakening of the spirit—if there be any such distinction to be made between the fleshe and spirit. This is the last and most extreame remedie to subdue the fleshe and waken the spirit. So it is necessar, that we now assembled in Christs name, so solemnlie and so weill warranted, goe on with auctoritie; for, though we be weake and unworthie instruments, we must consider what keyes he put in our hands, that hes the keyes of the house of David, that shutts and no man opens, that opens and no man shutts. I may give you assurance, in the name of our Lord, that if we goe on as we are warrandit by Him, without partialitie and respect to men, but having respect to the honour of God and weilfair of this Kirk—if we goe on with sentence and excommunication, that which we doe on earth he shall ratifie in Heaven, and we shall be all witnesses that he shall ratifie the same. If there be any of the particular Complaints that are to be given in, let them be presented heir, to be red be the Clerk.
Mr David Lindsay said—We have met, and thir processes which are deducit and concludit we have sent the formalitie; and such as we produce heir, according to our judgment, are of weightie causes, and formerlie deduced. Uthers complaints are considerit by us, and we have advysed and tane this course, only to advyse them before what judicatorie they shall not intend proces; and if the Presbitries where they dwell be competent judicatories, let them goe to them; and if not, let uther Presbitries be joyned to them. Heir is ane proces against Mr David Mitchell.
[Case of Mr David Mitchell.]
Moderatour said—We should have heard truelie with regrait of their persons—yea with joy when we see the Lord putting to his hand to purge his awne house.