The Proceedings of the late Solemne Assembly, holden at Edinburgh 12 of August 1639.
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.