Thoughe our difficulties be maney and growing, zet quhen wee looke backe vpone the grate thinges wich God hath done for ws and for our predecessors, and our manifold deliuerances out of seuerall dangers and difficulties wich appeired insuperable, experience breides hope. Our fathers trusted in God; they trusted in him, and he did deliuer them; they crayed wnto him, and wer deliuered; they trusted in him, and wer not confounded. Let ws wait vpon him, quho hydeth himselue from the housse of Iacob; let ws cray wnto the Lord of Hostis, quho hathe deliuered ws, and doeth deliuer ws; and in him lett ws trust that he will zet deliuer ws; though for a small moment he hath forsaken ws, zet with grate mercies he will gather ws. He quho hath shewed ws grate and sore troubles, shall quicken ws againe, and shall bring ws upe again from the deipthes of the earthe; he shall encrease our strenthe, and comfort ws on eurey syde, aganist our feares one eaurey syde; onlie be stronge, be of good courage, be of one mynde, and according to the worke of the Lord, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Sic subscribitur,W. Ker.
[20 Martij.]—Ordred that it be putt one the Commissione of the Generall Assembley, that Stirling receaue no præiudice by Guthrie and Bennitt, ther preaching, or ther being ther.
[21 Martij.]—Ordred that a barrone and a burgesse goe with the Earle of Eglinton to the Commissione of the Kirke, and enquyre for ther anssuer to the quere proposed by the parl: to them.
[22 Martij.]—The Com: of Generall Assemblies anssuer to the parliaments quere, reed; being a delay of a full anssuer to the said quere, wntill ther be a more frequent meitting of the said commission; zet in ther paper, they desyre the King and parl: to admitt vpone ther counsells, all bot some few as haue beine pryme actors aganist the stait, &c.
Saterday, 29 Martij. 14 dies parl: Rege presente.—Ordred that my Lord Chanceler and my Lord Balcarras draw vpe a letter to be sent to the Commission of the Generall Assembley, that they wold haist ther meitting for remouing that obstikelle and scruple of taking in all remoued by the acts of classis; and that ther may be a generall vnity in the kingdome.
The anssuer of the Commission of the Generall Assembley to the paper sent to them for the King and parliament, concerning Mr James Guthrie and Mr Dauid Bennett.
Perth, 18 Martij, 1651.
The Commissione of the Generall Assembley hauing receaued first from Mr James Guthrie and Mr Dauid Bennett, ministers at Stirling, and afterward from the Kings Maiestie and parliament, tuo protestations made by thesse brethren aganist the proceidinges of his Maiestie and the Committee of Estaits with them, in relatione to the securing of Stirling from aney danger wiche might ensew therinto, by the doctrine and carriage of the said brethren, contrair to the present publicke resolutions, in relation to acting for defence of the kingdome and causse against the publicke enimey; and being desyred by his Maiestie and parliament to giue ther adwisse and oppinione, wither the Committee of Estaits, in ther proceiding with ther brethren, hes done aney thing preiudiciall to the preuiledges and liberties of the kirke; to vindicat the publick resolutions of kirke and stait, in order to acting aganist the enemie, from the imputatione layed therone in the forsaid pretestations; to giue ther oppinione, wither the Committee of Estaits hes wronged ther brethren, contrair to the law of nature, the law of God, and the lawes of the land, by ordring them to remaine at Perth or Dundie, wntill his Maiesties returne from Aberdeine; that in a more full meitting of the committee it might be determined quhat should be done further with them, in relatione to the saftie of Stirling; and finally, to giue ther adwice quhat now shall be done further to the presenters of the forsaid protestations, for the securing of the garisons of Stirlinge. Therfor the commission, hauing takin to ther consideratione the forsaid protestations, and being informed of the proceidinges of the committee with the presenters therof, haue thought fitt, in obedience to the desyre of the King and parliament, and for the discharge of the trust comitted to them, to giue this declaratione and anssuers followeth:—
1. That they find it a thing lawfull for ministers, citted and compeiring befor the ciuile magistrate, vpone matters relatinge to ther doctrine and carriage in ther ministeriall dewties, to protest, that ther compirance be with preseruation, and without all preiudice of the liberties and preuelidges of the kirke and of the ministers of Christ, in thesse thinges that relate to the doctrine and deuties of ther ministeriall function; and that the forsaid brethren compiring, vpone matters of that kind, befor the committee, had no wayes faylled in doing so, had they contented themselues with a simple protestation to this purposse.