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

Sess. 21.—August 29, Thursday, hora nona.

After in calling upon the name of God, the Moderatour said—The Assemblie doth long greatlie to heare your Graces mynd concerning the mayne point that yet remaines, that we all, who are ane people in ane Kingdome, may be of ane heart in ane Covenant.

The Commissioner answered—We met yesterday about that purpose; and I hope we have made that happie progresse. We have considered of the Covenant, which is a great worke, wherein our Master conceaves our religion and his honour may concerne it; and if it be well thought upon, both the matter and forme is no lesse then may be expected from good subjects and good Christians. Having taken this to our consideration, being satisfied both for the matter and forme of it, and after many overtures how we might accommodat matters to the contentment of all, to wit, that we should follow a precedent of former tymes, that, as the Assemblie hath gone on in former tymes, sae we may now; and I trust this shall reconcile all.

The Commissioners Grace sought libertie to depart, to the end he might conferre with the Councell against the afternoone, of the best way how to accommodat the matter.

It was complained by some, that by the reason of the great tumult they could not heare the purpose.

The Moderatour, after he had exhorted them to order, quyetnes, and gravitie, said—The matter is anent the Covenant—that there may be a common course for the subscription of the same by all the subjects within this Kingdome, and that by ecclesiasticall and civill auctoritie. The way of the doing of this it’s thought fittest that it be the same that was used in the year 1590, wherein the Generall Assemblie sett downe the Confession of Faith with the Band, and gave in a Supplication to the Councell that they might joyne their civill sanction thereunto, and ordained the same to be subscryved by all the leidges; lykeas they by their ecclesiastick auctoritie, commanded the same to be subscryved under all ecclesiastick censure. The same course is now to be taken. This Assemblie is to supplicat his Majesties Commissioner and Councell, desiring them by Act of Councell to ratifie our Covenant, and enjoyne it upon all the subjects; and thereafter the Assembly themselves is injoyned under the ecclesiastick censures, and to supplicat the Parliament, that both their oune Act and the Act of Councell may be ratified there; and so there is no alteration to be of the Covenant, but the whole Covenant, totum compositum, to be subscryved; only this, the Commissioners Grace will adde a Declaration before his subscription, that the Kings Majestie having receaved satisfaction of his subjects that they intended nothing but the preservation of religion and mantainance of his auctoritie, therefore he subscryves; and the Counsell also, according to the declaration of the Assemblie, and his Grace is now gone to consider of this. The Moderatour desired some of the brethren to give their judgement of this course.

Mr Hary Rollock answered—I thinke all men that heares of it rejoyces at it, and I thinke it is as much as we could hope for: yea, we scarce expected such good newes as to heare that our Covenant should be confirmed by all sanction, civill and ecclesiasticall; and I thinke nane that hes heard it but they are sending up their heart secreatlie to praise the Lord for it.

Mr Andro Ramsay, Mr Andro Cant, and divers of the Brethren, spacke to the same effect.

Those that were appoynted for the Manifesto Booke [Large Declaration] were desired to goe presentlie foorth of the Assemblie, and prepaire their diligence against the afternoone.

Anent the Report of the Committie appointed to consider of the Decreit given out by the Commissioners of the last Assemblie, for Visitation of the Colledge of Aberdeene, concerning Mr James Sandilands: They fand that the intention of the Commissioners was only to discharge him to teache anything in the profession of the Canoun law which was not agrieable to our religion and profession, and therefore thought it meit that he should enjoy the said office, with the emoluments for his mantainance, but upon the foresaid condition.