Though weeping be in the evening of this begun Reformation and purging of the Lords House among you, yet in the morning when the discovered filthinesse and sweepings of the Temple shall be orderly cast out, joy shall come with thanksgiving and praise. Though a fire be kindled in the Land, yet it is not to consume any of the mettal, for the Lord is sitting down as a Refiner amongst you, and especially to purifie the sons of Levi, that he may have a more pure oblation of spirituall worship and service in all his holy ordinances throughout all the Land, which is no token of wrath, but of loving-kindnesse towards you. No wonder that Satan doth thus rage, as you relate, for-seeing his casting out: No wonder he stirre up all the children of disobedience, and kindle their naturall malice against the children of God with the inspiration of hellish fury: No wonder the spirit of Antichrist be mad, when the morsell half swallowed down, is like to be pulled out of his throat, the fat morsell of the rich Revenues of England: No wonder he be cruell against you the servants of Christ, who are consuming him by the breath of the Lords mouth.
You do well to expect no mercy, if Papists and Prelats prevail over you, neither desire we to deceive our selves with hopes to be free from what ther power and malice can do against us; for they will not do to us if they get the upper-hand, as we have done, and must do, if God bring them low again under us, as they were before; for we and they are led by the contrary spirits of Christ and Antichrist: We have laboured, and must labour for their conversion, but they (except in so far as God shall bridle them) will not rest without our destruction; for their fury against our persons is much more fierie then our zeal is fervent against their abominations. Let them follow the spirit of lying and murthering, wee must take us to our refuge, and joyne our selves with all that are sensible of the danger of the Reformed Religion in prayer and supplication, The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Now for advice, what can we say to you who are upon your watch-tower, wherein is the spirit of wisedome and counsell, who lye thus as humble Disciples under the Lords foot, who did never forsake them that sought him. Go on in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, against all opposition, without fear of whatsoever dangers, to purge the House of the Lord, to repair the breaches thereof, to set up all his Ordinances in their full beautie and perfection, to the uttermost of your power, according to the pattern of the Word of GOD, and zeal of the best reformed Kirks; And let these two Kingdomes be knit together as one man in maintaining and promoving the truth of the Gospel; Let us enter in a perpetuall Covenant for our selves and our posterity, to endeavour that all things may be done in the House of GOD according to his own will, and let the Lord do with us what seemeth good in his eyes. Only wait upon the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart. Let your hands be ever at your Masters Work, and hold your faces resolutely to his Cause. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quite your selves like men, be strong, for ye shall see the salvation of the Lord, and your labour shall not be in vain.
Subscribed in name of the Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland, by the Clerk of the Assembly.
Commission of the Generall Assembly for these that repair to the Kingdome of England.
THE Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland, finding it necessary to send some godly and learned of this Kirk to the Kingdome of England, to the effect under-written. Therefore gives full Power and Commission to Master Alexander Henderson, Master Robert Douglas, Master Samuel Rutherfoord, Master Robert Bailzie, and Master George Gillespie, Ministers, John Earle of Cassills, John Lord Maitland, and Sir Archbald Johnstoun of Waristoun Elders, or any three of them, whereof two shall be Ministers, to repair to the Kingdome of England, and there to deliver the Declaration sent unto the Parliament of England, and the Letter sent unto the Assembly of Divines now sitting in that Kingdome. And to propone, consult, treat and conclude with that Assembly or any Commissioners deputed by them, or any Committees or Commissioners deputed by the Houses of Parliament, in all matters which may further the Union of this Island in one forme of Kirk-government, one confession of Faith, one Catechisme, and one Directorie for the Worship of GOD, according to the Instructions which they have received from the Assembly, or shall receive from time to time hereafter from the Commissioners of the Assembly deputed for that effect. With power also to them to convey to his Majestie, the humble Answer sent from this Assembly to his Majesties Letter, by such occasion as they shall think convenient; And suchlike to deliver the Assemblies Answer to the Letter sent from some wel-affected Brethren of the Ministery there. And generally authorizes them to do all things which may further the so much desired Union, and nearest conjunction of the two Churches of Scotland and England, conform to their Instructions aforesaid.
Reference to the Commission, anent the Persons designed to repair to the Kingdome of England.
The Assembly having this day approven the nomination made by the Commissioners of the late Assembly, of Persons to repair to the Synod of Divines in England: And having of new elected and nominated all the same persons, except Master Eleazar Borthwick, who is now with GOD. Therefore gives power to the Commissioners to be appointed by this Assembly for the publick affairs of this Kirk, to nominate and appoint any other whom they shall think meet in his place. And suchlike the Assembly refers to the said Commission, to consider whether it be convenient to send now at this present time to the Kingdome of England, all the persons appointed to go thither, and to designe the Persons whom they think meet to go at this present occasion, to determine the time of their dispatch, and to give unto them their Instructions. And further in case of sicknesse or death of any of the persons appointed for that employment, or in the case of any other necessary impediment of their undertaking the samine; Gives power to the said Commission, to nominate others in their place if the Commission shall finde it convenient.