The same report was made for Mr Wᵐ Forbes, who humblie confessing his faults before the Assemblie, got the same favour.
The Committie reported that Mr John Hamilton was also truelie penitent, but it was [thought] he should give his tryell of new. The Assemblie refers him back to to the Presbitrie.
Mr Robert Hamilton, of Lismahagow, compeired and said he was willing to subscryve the Cannons of the Synod of Dort, and to revoke all his Arminian tenets that he had mentioned; and, in speciall, he was sorrie for his rashe expressions in his paper given in yesterday to the Commissioners Grace, and was willing to submitt himselfe to the Assemblie.
The Moderatour said—This matter is not of so small consequence, that we should either cutt yow off from hopes of being receaved upon your repentance, nor that we slight the auctoritie of this Assemblie, so farr scuffed by yow yesternight, that we should suddenlie receave yow to the Ministrie who hes bein so lang obstinat and caried your selfe in such a proud maner.
Auldbar said—It is not four houres since he was converted.
The Assemblie referris him to the Synod of Glasgow.
The Commissioner said—I still urge that it is your best for these churches that are vacant, whereof our Master is Patron, to represent the case to him, and what yow doe in this, let it be by way of Supplication; and If I shall not both convey the same, and be a good instrument to obtaine your desire, I pray God I never thryve.
Upon occasion of this, my Lord Argyle said—When we consider the great divisions and distractiouns of this Kirk, we rejoyce to see this dayes worke, and your Grace sitting here to put order to all thinges in his Majesties name; and since we have enjoyed this by his Majesties graceous favour, I represent to your Grace and this Assembly, if it shall not be very incumbent to us to thinke upon some humble way how to testifie our heartie acknowledgement of this favour from his Majestie, and to rander his Majestie humble thankes therefore: to the which the Commissioners Grace and the whole Assemblie did applaud, and desired it might come in with the Overtures.
My Lord Lowdoun said—If it like your Grace, I shall be bold to desire ane thing may be added to the Overtures—and I know certainlie I have the applause of the whole Assemblie. Amongst uthers, imputations that have beene layd upon this Church and the government of it as it is now established, that Ministers will rashlie and misrespectivelie have preached of auctoritie, and, therefore, especiallie since the Kings Majestie thought by his haveing of the Bischops he had a readie way to censure and punische Ministers that should deboord in this kynd, least we should seeme to derogat any thing from the due respect acknowledged justlie to his Majesties Soveraignitie, it seemes expedient that the Assemblie should now testifie their respect to his Majestie by making of ane Act, that no Minister preache rashlie of anything concerning auctoritie, and an Act for censuring all such as shall transgresse.
The Commissioner answered—I believe there is none that heares your Lordships proposition, but they take it to come from a noble heart; and if I should thinke otherwayes, I were not worthie to sitt here. How farr the Constitutions of the Kirk will warrand yow to goe on in censuring such thinges I know not. But I believe you intend not to exclude the civile magistrat from punishing of such thinges.