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

Then there was a proces given in against Mr John Crichtoun, Minister at Pasley, whilk was red. It contained many blasphemous poynts, both of Arminianisme and Poperie—about 48—besyde his scandelous lyfe. Then the roll was called, and the whole Assembly voited to his deprivation.

Then the Moderatour said—Though it be our parte to doe what the Lord hes commanded us, we should doe it with griefs and compassion of heart; for a just sentence may be pronounced with ane evill heart: notwithstanding, we ought to have hope that the Lord will give him repentance; but since ye have thought him worthie of deposition, In the name of this Assembly, and in the name of Christ, our Lord, I depose him from all function of the Ministrie, both in doctrine and use of Sacraments, and declaires his place to be vacant.

Sess. 14.
[December 6, 1638.]

After prayer to God, there was some witnesses sworne to give their information concerning the Complaint [against] the Prelats—as namelie, Doctor Guild, Mr David Lindsey, Mr David Young, Mr Alexʳ Robertsone, Mr Androw Strauchane, Mr John Rutherfuird, Mr Thomas Mitchell, Mr David Forrest, Mr Wᵐ Menzies, Mr George Robertsone, Mr George MᶜGill, Mr George Fleyming, Thomas Durhame, Mr George Muschet, Mr George Grahame, and James Row, Archibald Campbell, Mr Robert Bruce; and becaus these persones are witnesses, they cannot be judges, and therefore they cannot sitt heir as voiters in that particular.

The Moderatour said—Ye know there was a Committie of some learned and worthie brethren anent the Service Booke, Cannons, &c., and we trust their labours shall have a large approbation of yow. Ye shall heare some of them red unto yow, which we hope shall give great light unto your mynds. Take head to them that you may be able, after the hearing of them, to the voiting, that after the declaration of your mynd, ane act may be drawen up such as beseemes the General Assemblie, and that by the auctoritie of this Assembly, order may be given for printing a Treatise which may be a guard for the posteritie to come against such evills, and perhaps for uther Kirkes also; and albeit the laboures of our worthie brethren take up some tyme in reading of them, I hope we will not wearie, becaus there are many notable poyntes of heresie and errour in these bookes; and since there hes beine great paines taken by the authors of these bookes thir many yeares in frameing of them, I hope ye shall find it a well bestowed day, to see the darknes and errours of them discovered; and I am sure it will be more delectable for us to heare thir thinges reading, nor to have bein reading these Popishe bookes ourselves in our churches.

Then there was a large and learned Treatise red by these reverend brethren that were in that Committie, descryving the Idolatrie and Superstition of the Service book, the tyrannie and usurpation of the Booke of Cannons and Ordination, and the unlawfulnes of the High Commission, which gave great satisfaction to the whole Assembly.

The Assemblies condemning the Service Booke and High Commission.

Then the Moderatour said—Your Honours and Wisdomes all know how this Church hath bein burdened with these great weights and multitudes of evills, the Service, &c. Ye know also how a great parte of the Subjects of this Kingdome, of all rankes, did joyne together in a great, peaceable, and humble maner, and did supplicat his Majestie against these manifold and great evills; and when at the first, they had not such great hope as utherwayes they would have wished, to have beene free of these great evills, how they joyned together in that Confession of Faith and in a publict declaration, that in their judgement these evills were abjured in the Confession of Faith 1580. Ye are acquanted with the words wherein these same evills are abjured; “and becaus efter due examinatione we plainlie perceave and undoubtedlie beleive that the forsaids narations and evills,” &c. Ye know it pleased the Kings Majestie at last to discharge all these bookes and High Commission, for the which we have reasone heartilie to thanke his gracious Majestie; and it hes pleased God, by the indiction of this present free Generall Assemblie, to bring us all heir, and is now calling us to give our judgements concerning these bookes and High Commission. I did not thinke that any of yow neids any farder information, both becaus the Kings Majestie hes discharged them alreadie, and becaus it is not the first day that ye have heard of them, but hath informed yourselfes of the evill of them or now; and though your judgements had not bein prepaired by the laboures of our reverend and learned brethren, I put no question but ye would have done it before out of verie cleare light. Ye know ye must consider whether these bookes and the High Commission have bein brought into the Kirk without warrant of the Kirk, contrare to the order thereof, whether they containe thinges abjured in our National Confessione of Faith we have latelie subscryved—and, in a word, whether they be by this National Assembly to be condemned?

Then Mr Alexʳ Somervell raise up and spacke.—I approve the travells of our worthie and learned brethren, which, I hope, hes given full satisfaction; and for these proud men who gives proud titles to them quhilks, calling the Service Booke “a booke of commone prayer;” for it is commone to all the reprobat that walke in the broad way; and, for the uther booke callit “Cannons,” it is a name which is given to Scripture itselfe; and for their owne pride, they were not content with that which kirk, country, and parliament gave them, but would rise above all; and nothing would satisfie their unlimited ambitione. It seemes that Gods hand is upon them in this instance, and not only will take from them that which they have usurped, but also that which was given unto them; ffor as long as there was nothing concludit but the Five Articles, many were deceaved with their indifferencie; but now their courses are discovered, and it is weill knowne now they are leading us toward Rome; and we have reasone to blesse God that by the Kings majesties indiction of this Generall Assembly, they are now coming to voiting. And if personall faults be so worthie of censure, much more their ministeriall errours which crosse that holy calling; and, therefore, I hope ye are all readie, not only to give sentence against these bookes, but against the authors of them.

Then the Moderatour stated the question—Whither doe ye reject or condemne these Bookes and the High Commission, for the reasons foresaids, or not?