The Assembly approves the Overtures foresaid, and ordains Presbyteries to put the samine to execution with all diligence: and that the Commissioners of every Presbyterie give in a List of the excommunicate Papists within their bounds, and of Papists children out of the Countrey, to the Clerk, that the same may be presented to the Councell by the Commissioners of this Assembly.
Act anent the joyning of the Presbyterie of Sky to the Synode of Argyle.
THE Generall Assembly having considered the whole proceedings of the Commissioners of the late Generall Assembly holden at Edinburgh, anent the reference made to them concerning the Presbyterie of Sky, together with the whole reasons pro & contra in the said matter, after mature deliberation have ratified and approved, and by these presents ratifie and approve the Sentence of the saids Commissioners thereintill. And further ordains the said Presbytery of Sky, and all the Ministers and Elders thereof, to keep the meetings of the Provincial Assembly of Argyle, where they shall happen to be appointed in all time coming, suchlike as any other Presbyterie within the bounds of the said Province of Argyle uses to do: And that the samine Presbyterie be in all time hereafter within the jurisdiction of the said Provincial Assembly, without any further question to be made thereanent.
Sess. VIII. 3 Aug., post meridiem.
The Supplication of this Assembly to the Kings Majestie.
To the Kings most Excellent Majestie, the hearty thanksgiving, and humble Petition of the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, met at S. Andrews July 27, 1642.
OUR hearts were filled with great joy and gladnesse at the hearing of Your Majesties Letter, which was read once and again in face of the Assembly, every line thereof almost either expressing such affection to the reformed Religion, and such royall care of us, as we could require from a Christian Prince; or requiring such necessary duties from us, as we are bound to performe as Ministers of the Gospel and Christian Subjects: For which, as solemne thanks were given by the Moderator of the Assembly, so do we all with one voice in all humility, present unto Your Majestie the thankfulnesse of our hearts, with our earnest prayers to God for Your Majesties prosperity, and the peace of your Kingdoms, that Your Majestie may be indeed a nursing Father to all the Kirks of Christ in Your Majesties Dominions; and especially to the Kirk of Scotland, honoured with your Birth Baptisme: promising our most serious indeavours by doctrine and life, to advance the Gospel of Christ, and to keep the people in our charge in Unity and Peace, and in all loyalty and obedience to Your Majestie and your Laws. Your Majesties commands to your Commissioner, the Earle of Dumfermling, to receive from us our just and reasonable desires for what may further serve for the good of Religion here, the favours which we have received already, and Your Majesties desire and delight to do good, expressed in your Letter, are as many encouragements to us, to take the boldnesse in all humility to present unto Your Majestie (beside the particulars recommended to Your Majesties Commissioner) one thing, which for the present is the chiefest of all our desires, as serving most for the glory of Christ, for Your Majesties Honour and Comfort; and not onely for the good of Religion here, but for the true happinesse and peace of all Your Majesties Dominions; which is no new motion, but the prosecution of that same which was made by the Commissioners of this Your Majesties Kingdom in the late Treatie, and which Your Majestie, with advice of both Houses of Parliament, did approve in these words: “To their desire concerning unitie in Religion and uniformitie of Church government, as a speciall meanes of conserving of Peace betwixt the two Kingdoms, upon the grounds and reasons contained in the Paper of the 10 of March, given in to the Treaty and Parliament of England: It is answered upon the 15 of June, That His Majestie, with advice of both Houses of Parliament, doth approve of the affection of His Subjects of Scotland, in their desire of having the conformity of Church-government betwixt the two Nations, and as the Parliament hath already taken into consideration the reformation of Church government, so they will proceed therein in due time, as shall best conduce to the glory of God, the Peace of the Church and of both Kingdoms, 11 of June 1641.” In our Answer to a Declaration sent by the now Commissioners of this Kingdom from both Houses of Parliament, we have not onely pressed this point of unity in Religion and Uniformity of Church-government, as a meane of a firme and durable union betwixt the two Kingdomes, and without which former experiences put us out of hope long to enjoy the puritie of the Gospel with Peace, but also have rendred the reasons of our hopes and confidence, as from other considerations, so from Your Majesties late Letter to this Assembly, that Your Majestie in a happy conjunction with the Houses of Parliament, will be pleased to settle this blessed Reformation, with so earnestly desired a Peace in all your Dominions. And therefore we Your Majesties most loving Subjects, in name of the whole Kirks of Scotland, represented by us, upon the knees of our hearts, do most humbly and earnestly beg, that Your Majesty in the deep of your Royall Wisdom, and from your affection to the true Religion and the Peace of your Kingdoms, may be moved to consider, that the God of Heaven and Earth is calling for this Reformation at your hands, and that as you are his Vice-gerent, so you may be his prime Instrument in it. If it shall please the Lord (which is our desire and hope) that this blessed unitie in Religion and Uniformity in Government shall be brought about; your Majesties Conscience, in performing of so great a dutie, shall be a well-spring of comfort to Your Self, your memory shall be a sweet favour, and your name renowned to all following generations. And if these unhappy commotions and divisions shall end in this peace and unity, then it shall appeare in the Providence of God, they were but the noyse of many waters, and the voyce of a great thunder before the voyce of harpers harping with their harps, which shall fill this whole Iland with melodie and mirth, and the name of it shall be, The Lord Is There.