1. On Tuesday, the 20th, the first day of our assembly, the last moderator, Mr Andrew Ramsay, preached the 122d psalm. According to his way, he went over it all. The first day of our assembly is appointed for fasting and humiliation. Of this disposition there was not so much this day among us as needed. After sermon we met in the Old College-hall. Mr Andrew prayed; the commissions were received by Mr Archibald Johnston; many of the commissioners were members of parliament; divers others also, upon the certain expectation of the assembly’s translation to Edinburgh, had not come over. His Grace’s commission in Latin was read; one clause thereof importing, at the Commissioner’s advice, the assembly’s translation, was demurred on by the clerk, as intruding on the assembly’s liberties; yet it was not publickly questioned. A letter from his Majesty to the assembly, so full of grace and favour as we could have wished, was read. The answering of it was laid on Mr David Lindsay of Belhelvie. His draught in the end of Edinburgh assembly was read: but it was so long and luxuriant, that Mr Henderson was caused to make that short, decised, and nervous answer.
The parliament had sent over a commissioner to us, one from ilk estate, Cassils, Auldbar, Provost of Dysart, intreating, without any prescription, that in regard many of them were members of the assembly, could not, without detriment to the publick, attend at St Andrew’s, we would be pleased to enter in no weighty action, especially in chusing a moderator, wherein they desired to have voice, before we returned to Edinburgh. In the translation there was no difficulty; but in the delay to chuse a moderator, the difficulty was huge. The most thought the assembly could not be constitute, and so was incapable to perform any act, let be so great a one as a translation, before a moderator was chosen. Some leading men, who would have had the moderation to themselves, or to those who favoured their intentions, urged a present election. The matter was remitted to the next session; wherein, to our great comfort, it was determined with far greater ease than any expected. Many of us thinking the delay impossible to be obtained, had concluded to voice for James Bonner; yet to-morrow, the earnestness of the commissioners from the parliament, the clerk finding in the register some such old practique, the certain hopes of Mr Henderson’s near return, his Grace permitting the matter to our own option, whilkas before some about him made him declare oft, that that delay would legally evacuate his commission; Mr David Dalgleish, overcoming in boldness his good friend Mr Harry Guthrie, stoutly reasoning the sufficient formality of continuing by voices the old moderator, ad hune actum, to transfer, and to chuse a new moderator in the beginning of the translated assembly, by plurality of voices it was clearly carried. We took that for a certain presage of God’s assistance in all subsequent purposes.
The next session was appointed to be held at Edinburgh, the 27th. No more but a supplication of D. Harry Reid, wherein he complained, that after his long service in the kirk and divinity-schools, he had been made to demit his place, by threats, in his extreme old age and poverty. The case was very invidious, and reflected much on his colleagues in the town and New college. The matter, I heard, was, that he, as principal, had given warrant for lifting the New-college rents, whiles to a wicked knave his son, whiles to D. Panter, and others; so that no count could be made by him of much money. Mr S. Rutherford, I think, caused complain of this to the estates when we were at London. They sent over Newton and William Ridge, rigorous enough, either to get account of him, or to lay him in ward. Upon the fear of this evil, he offered to demit his place; and his demission was taken, reserving 500 merits a-year to him for his entertainment. When his petition came to be considered in Edinburgh, his good friend Mr Henderson guided it so, that with a great deal of commendation to the old man, large as great, I am sure, as he ever deserved, it was voiced, that his demission should be rendered to him; that, according to the acts of our old assemblies anent failed ministers or professors, he should all his lifetime enjoy his full rent and honour, without any diminution.
When we came back to Edinburgh, to our great joy we found Mr Henderson and Mr Gillespie come home. That week was spent in privy consultations for accommodating the feared differences. Argyle and Cassils drew together in Loudon’s chamber the ministers of Edinburgh, Mess. Dick, Blair, Rutherford, Cant, me, and some others. All the ministers of Edinburgh were chafed at their people’s carriage towards them. They would have been at the simple discharge of all privy meetings, but those of a family; and for this the act of Aberdeen was alledged by them, and many moe: for this the other part would have had that act recalled or exponed. I marvelled much of both their forgetting the meaning and occasion of that act, set down at length to you in my letters. Then it was at last agreed, that Aberdeen act should be altogether miskent; that a draught should be made for ordering these meetings now in question. The paper drawn up by Mr Henderson the 10th of June, which pleased all well, that I had conferred with both, misliked the ministers of Edinburgh, and above all Mr D. Calderwood could not abide it. The clause in it of the number, which I liked best, did most mislike them; they alledged the permitting of any to meet, in the smallest numbers, was an establishing by an act the thing itself. Many meetings there were for little purpose. It was appointed, that Mr Dickson and Mr Blair should meet with Mr Henderson and Mr Will. Colvil, and set down their minds. Their draught was long, and too general. It was laid again on Mr David Dickson, with whom he pleased, to write down his mind. That form also did not please. At last Mr Henderson essayed it. His model liked us best; yet Mr D. Calderwood started mightily at it. We desired him to dite what he pleased; notwithstanding we were all refreshed with a certain hope of a solid agreement; for Mr Dickson and Mr Blair, and the rest who were suspected of innovating, purged themselves fully of all such intentions, and were ready to receive any of the models any had proponed. And being posed, what was their minds anent all the novations? Mr Andrew Ramsay could enumerate such as omitting, Glory to the Father, kneeling in the pulpit, discountenancing real prayers, &c. They gave answer satisfactory, that betwixt us and them there was no discrepance at all. At last Mr Henderson fell on that model, which thereafter was voiced and printed. This happy concord, whereof Argyle and Henderson were happy instruments, will, we trust, be a great blessing to the whole land, which every where began to be fashed with idle toys.
On Tuesday, July 27th, we met before noon in the Grayfriars. After prayer, Mr Andrew Fairfoul required, that his commission should be given to Mr Henderson, in regard that the presbytery had chosen Mr Andrew Ramsay, Mr Andrew Pollock, [Henry Rollock,] and Mr Alex. Henderson, if he should be present, and him only in case of Mr Henderson’s absence. So, albeit Mr John Adamson had, at his own hand, put in his own name in the commission at the first meeting in St Andrew’s, and had voiced there as commissioner; yet Mr Henderson being now present, he required to be free of the burden, which he had undertaken only in case of his absence. While the matter is going to voicing, Mr Calderwood, albeit no commissioner, reasoned very passionately, that Mr Henderson was incapable of a commission. In this Mr Henderson seconded him. Always, when it came to voicing, Mr Henderson’s commission was unanimously received. The next question was about a new leet for a new moderator. The old fashion was, that the former moderator leeted whom he would, and the assembly added whom they pleased. An overture had passed at Aberdeen, that every provincial synod should have one of their number to be on the leets for moderator, one to be on the committee of bills, one for the reports, and one for the overtures. The Northlandmen pressed much to have it so; but it was found unreasonable; and that overture not being an act, and not being booked was rejected. Yet they got Belhelvie added to the leet which Mr Andrew gave in. Mr Henderson declared earnestly against the burden of moderation; yet the most of the votes fell on him. The nobles were for Mr Henry Rollock, some for Bonner, some for Belhevie, none at all for Adamson, Dalgleish, Somervel, Blackhall. No more was done in that session; only Argyle told us, that the parliament was content to have but one session a-day, and that in the afternoon, hoping the assembly would be pleased to make but one session also, and that in the forenoon, that so the commissioners might get both assembly and parliament attended. This was agreed to.
Wednesday the 28th. The moderator read the overtures which I had drawn up, and were enacted at Aberdeen, for ordering of the house. He pressed them all; yet, through negligence to exact them, thereafter we fell at once into our old misorders. Always we hope that the exact order the parliament has now taken for ruling their house, will make us, ere long, follow their good example. He read also a list of names for the committees of bills and reports. Now for the overtures; Till those of Aberdeen were considered, very hardly would he permit any to be added to those of his own number. For assessors to himself, he shewed he would advertise privily those whom most he needed. Four were named to appoint preachers for all the churches, in which Mr James Bonner, my good friend, being chief, by his favour I got myself shifted of that burthen, as in all this assembly I did what I could to hold myself quiet, and well near mute. Mr Calderwood fell on again impertinently, and very peevishly, as if it had been almost a null, an evil-constitute meeting, for being translated without a moderator permanent, and chusing of him for moderator who had no commission. Mr Henderson dealt very patiently and respectfully with him: at last his Grace commanded him silence. The moderator caused read some letters, which were given him in England for the assembly. The first was from a number of our gracious brethren of the ministry at London, and about it, congratulating our happy proceeding, shewing their hopes to get our discipline established there, telling that some of their brethren, who were for independency of congregations, were great hindrances to that design; also that they gave out that some of the most eminent men in the ministry with us, inclined their way. The men they meant by, Mr Henderson told us, were Mr D. Dickson, and Mr Cant; but none in all the assembly were more against independency than these two. The matter, after some days, was voiced: all in one voice rejected that confusion, as contrary directly to our covenant: and appointed Mr Henderson to write a courteous answer to our English brethren; which he did very accurately. If I can, you shall have a copy thereof.
The next was from Mr Durie, for assistance to his negotiation of peace amongst Protestants. While some were beginning to say somewhat to the man’s prejudice, I excused all, so that his motion was received; and it was laid on Mr Andrew Ramsay, Mr Blair, Mr Gillespie, and me, to frame an answer. We left the labour to Mr Blair, who did it well enough, in a fair genteel general, appointing him to keep, when he pleased, correspondence with the ministers of Edinburgh. A third was from D. Sibbald of Aberdeen, supplicating for his books, which at the prior assembly were taken from him. It was granted that he should have all except some of his sermons, whereupon a part of his process was grounded. A fourth was from Mr John Guthrie, Bishop of Murray, supplicating that his place, for a little time more, might be kept for him. It was rejected as unreasonable, and his presbytery appointed to plant his place; yea, order was given, that none who had delayed so long to come in the covenant, should be received, without a singular measure of satisfaction and trial, to be approven by the general assembly. The Moderator fell on a notable motion, of drawing up a Confession of Faith, a Catechism, a Directory for all the parts of the publick worship, and platform of government, wherein possibly England and we might agree. All approved the motion; and thereafter the burden of that labour was laid on the back of the mover, with liberty to vaik from preaching whenever he pleased, and to take help of whom he thought meet. He did not incline to undertake it, yet it will lie on him; and readily in this he may do some good.
Thursday the 29th. The moderators of the committees had no matter prepared for the assembly; so we put off that session with general discourses, especially upon the matter of translation, which had most troubled us in bygone synods, and was like to do so in this also. A committee was appointed to find out overtures for that difficult matter. Lest I should be prejudged, I got it on Lord Eglinton and Mr Robert Barclay. Glasgow also, by their importunity, got on Dr Strang and D. Dickson. The presbytery of Glasgow, it were long to tell you the way how they stifled both Mr Dickson and Mr Ramsay from being commissioners. This was very evil taken by the whole country, and turned over to Glasgow’s prejudice: yet Mr David was used no otherwise by the assembly than if he had been a prime commissioner. This committee did nothing for a day or two, and that, it was publickly complained, because D. Strang and Mr David, for their own interest, marred the rest; so they, and with them my Lord Eglinton and Mr Robert Barclay, were removed from that committee. Thereafter they blocked a number of tolerable overtures; the conclusion whereof was remitted to the next general assembly. The moderator advised the town of Edinburgh, and other prime burrows, to entertain abroad some good spirits, who might be their own, if they proved apt for their service. Also he shewed the expediency of calling home one Mr Thomas Young from England, the author of Dies Dominicæ, and of the Smectymnuus for the most part; and of Mr Colvin from Sedan, to whose commendation he spake much. If he has done any thing in private, let us have it, and write what ye know of his abilities. There was a committee appointed to consider the state of our far remote churches of the Isles, of Lochaber, Orkney, and Shetland. Some present course was taken for Lochaber; and it was laid on Mr Robert Blair, and Mr Andrew Afflect, to go in the Spring to visit Arran and some near isles. There was a committee appointed to consider the advancement of the weal of colleges and schools. All their consultations we hope in time will produce good fruits.
Friday, the 30th, came in a number of particular bills; yea, some days thereafter, there came more than 200, for augmentation of stipends, for dividing or changing of churches; all which, without reading, were referred to the parliament; regrets for the enormous sins of the land. The removing of monuments of superstition, from divers parts of the country yet remaining, was recommended to the presbyteries. Mr John Guthrie, Bishop of Murray, sent out of the tolbooth, to the assembly, a supplication to confer with the moderator, and some others. All the subject of his discourse with them, as also of divers conferences he had before with the ministers of Edinburgh, was only a stiff wrangling about the formality of the process of excommunication. He sent in another supplication thereafter for the same end, but was neglected; for he and other of those men, seem to be obdured in perverseness: yet it is like, that if the King and we had settled sure in parliament, there are few of them, if any, but will supplicate to be permitted to do all that shall be prescribed.