Mr Alexʳ Henrysone said—Becaus Generall Assemblies are expresst in the Act, but not Provinciall or Presbyteriall, therefore the Commissioners Grace would declair his consent unto these; to which the Commissioner acquiesced.
The rolles were called, and it was desyred that the word should be “agries,” or “disagries” to the Act.
Mr Alexʳ Kerse, being first called on, said—How unreasonable this unluckie bird of Episcopacie is to be brought doune, and here to be slaughtered, is not necessar to give epithets unto, if we will but consider that the four Bishops (if we may call them lawfullie) established in this kingdome, which are full of abilitie and power, and nothing can escape them! We have our Church Sessions, Presbitries, Synodall Assemblies, and such a famous Generall Assembly as this, that may be sufficient to prove and show the experience of this Government that now happilie is to be fullie established in this kingdome; for there [is] not so much as a little cockle or darnell of perverse or hereticall doctrine that shall spring up but presentlie it shall be cutt doune, and trodd at under, according to the saying, vitium convocationis in tribus, digentur in quarto, which is true heir; and, if it escape two or thrie, it shall not misse the fourth. If it shall happen to escape Sessions, Presbytries, and Synodall Assemblies, it will happilie be digested and concocted in such a famous Assemblie as this; and now happilie these poisonable weeds that have oppressed the stomach of this Kirk are now to be spued out: and here, for this poynt, I give this Episcopacie an eternum vale! As for the Articles of Perth, and these pretended Assemblies, they are dead it is true, and appearandlie this is the day of their buriall. I am sorie they should have gotten such a fair day lent. For me, I mynd to give them no funerall sermon. But there is ane thing Solomon tells us, “I have seene the wicked dead, and rise again.” We have need, verilie, to hold them doune, that they revive no againe. As for the Service Booke, it condemns itselfe. It carries the Anti-Christian markes, and a reall practising of that which the Jesuits doth preach; and, (being interrupted, he said,) therefore I abjure it, and agries to the Act.
All the rest of the Assembly, in ane voice, (not ane contrare,) did approve and agrie unto the Act.
The Commissioner being desired to give his voice, said—I believe, for formes sake, I may give it, but materiallie I have given it alreadie. I have often told you that my Masters pleasure was, that Episcopacie should be found by this Assembly to be such as they had alledged in their petitions and papers, (which is now unanimouslie found by this Assemblie to be such,) that I should both consent unto and ratifie the same. And I shall neid to say no more in this. But if there hes bein any jealousies or feares, I hope now they shall be removed; and it becomes yow best, who are of the Ministerie, to remove them; and not only to make your people sensible of his Majesties goodnes, to render to him his due thankes—I meane the humane part of it; for the praise is due to God, who hes so disposed of his heart, and it is his oune act and goodnes: yet, when we consider our Masters inclination and breeding, I hope we shall thinke the lesse tho’ we find greater difficulties then we could have wished againe these that have beene his Majesties good informers and instruments in working of this worke, we must not forget them, but think that we owe them a great deall of thankes. If any thinke that I conceave any of this due to me, I protest nothing at all, for I act nothing but the part of an echo, and this imployment came upon me by my Lord Hamiltons worke; and if ye knew what I know him to have beene—a faithfull, carefull, and painfull agent in this busines. I speake it not to derogat from my Masters thankes, but that every instrument should have their aune acknowledgement: and for my voice, I approve the Act.
The Moderatour said—We blesse the Lord, and thanke King Charles, and doe pray for the prosperitie of his throne, and constancie of it, so long as the Sun and Moone indures; and thankes be to all good instruments! And since your Grace is pleased to name the Marquis of Hamilton as a speciall instrument, we are glad—looking upon him as a man standing on a steeple head on his on foote betweene his misinformed Master and his native Countrie—to give him a favourable construction. I am confident that this dayes worke hath made the impression of his Majesties goodnes, who hath come over his oune birth and breeding, to give his subjects contentment, so deeplie to be rooted and stamped, that it shall not easillie be taken out of our hearts againe. And I expect yow all, according to the place ye have put upon me, especiallie yow of the Ministrie, to doe your best in giving evidence of your good service to God in furthering of the Kings subjects to thinke, speake, and cary furth affection towards him, and as he deserves at our hand. And let these that are to preache the morne expresse themselves so duetifullie, that neither the Lord of Heaven want his glorie, nor King Charles his oune due praise, and instruments may have their place, and all may be partakers of our joy; for albeit our joy be not yet full, yet we have conceaved good hopes that ere we sunder it shall be; for the which cause, we will make requeast for your Grace that there be nothing inlaiking which may fulfill our joy.
The names of the Ministers that were to preach [not mentioned.]
To meet on Mononday, at 9 a clocke—hora nona.
[Sess. 9—August 19.]
After in calling upon the name of God, there was a Letter produced from the sometyme pretendit Bishop of Dunkell, showing his unfained griefe and sorrow of heart for undertaking that unlawfull office of Episcopacie; and withall most humblie craving pardon of God and the Kirk of Scotland, togither with a formall dimission of that pretendit office; acknowledging the late Generall Assembly at Glasgow, and all the constitutions thereof; swearing never to meddle directlie nor indirectlie with that pretendit office any more; whereof the tenor followes:—