No. III.
An Act and Overture of the Generall Assembly, for the Peace and Vnion of the Kirk.
Edinburgh. 2 August, 1652. Post meridiem.
Sess. 18.
The Generall Assembly being deeply affected with sense of the many and sad evils and calamities that have already arisen both to Kirk and State within this Land, by the lamentable divisions and distractions amongst Ministers and others of the People of God in this Kirk, and apprehensive of greater evils which may yet follow, to the overthrowing of the blessed Work of Reformation, (which the Lord, in his great and speciall mercy, was pleased to set up amongst us, having carryed it through many difficulties and oppositions,) and to the laying of the Kirk of God waste and desolat, if these divisions and distractions shal continue; And being most desirous, as the Servants of Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace, to use all necessary and lawfull means (so far as their knowledge and power can reach) for preventing the encrease of these divisions, and making up of the breaches; And being firmly resolved, for obtaining of this desirable end, in all meeknesse, gentlenesse, and moderation, to condescend so far as they can, without violation of Truth, and of the just authority of the Government and Courts of Jesus Christ in his Kirk, unto their Brethren of the Ministery and others of the People of God, who have been this late time by-past, and are at difference with the Judicatories of the Kirk, for bringing them to an happy conjunction with their Brethren in unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace.
Therefore, for giving an evidence and demonstration of their real intentions and sincere purpose about the premisses, as they have already, by some of their number commissionated for that effect, Declared and made offer to some of these their Dissenting Brethren, who were here in the time of the Assembly, so now again do Declare and make offer by this present Act, That the four Brethren, who, by the preceding General Assembly at S. Andrews and Dundee, were upon speciall consideration justly censured, for protesting against and declining the Authority thereof, shal have the censures inflicted on them by that Assembly for the cause foresaid, taken off them; And further, that no censure shall be inflicted on them for not submitting to the foresaid censures; yea, and that no censure shal be inflicted for their Protesting against, and declining of this present Gen. Ass. Providing, 1. That they do passe from the said two Protestations against, and declinators of the two foresaid Assemblies, judicially under their hand, between and the second Wednesday of November next ensuing, in their several Presbyteries or Synods respective. 2. That they also give assurance in manner foresaid, that they shall forbear holding up divisions by debates about matters of our late differences since the Assembly 1650, in preaching, writing, or any otherwise. Likeas the Assembly doth Declare and make offer, that all such as did concur in, or have been accessory unto the Protestation and Declinatour against the Assembly at S. Andrews and Dundee, and were not censured, shall be free from whatsoever censure might have been inflicted by any Act of the said Assembly, and that no such Act shall have any force against them hereafter in any Judicatory of this Kirk, and that no censure shall be inflicted on them for their accession unto the late Protestation and Declinatour against the present Assembly, Providing they shall perform the foresaid provisions within the time, and after the manner therein specified.
And for prosecution of this purpose, the Generall Assembly ordains the several Presbyteries or Synods of this Kirk to present this offer, with the Provisions therein contained, unto all such persons as are before-mentioned within their bounds respective: And in case the plurality of Presbyteries or Synods shal refuse to propound the same, the Assembly doth warrand such Brethren as acknowledge the Authority of these Assemblies, to propound them: and, having made report of their diligence and successe therein to the next ensuing Quarterly Meeting of the Commission of the Kirk, if they be then sitting, thereafter to do as they finde by the rule of the Word of God, and the Acts and Constitutions of Generall Assemblies of this Kirk, to be most necessary and conducible for preservation of truth, for procuring the Peace and welfare of the Kirk, and maintenance of the Authority of the Assemblies thereof, as they will be answerable to the next Generall Assembly; And recommends unto them to take advice of the Commission of the Kirk for their proceeding in any matter of importance of this kinde.
And now the Generall Assembly having out of tender affection toward their Brethren, and sincere desire of unity and concord with them in the Lord, and for the Lord, condescended unto this moderation and meeknesse, do obtest all and every one of them in the Name of Jesus Christ, and expect, as they tender the preservation of the Government of this Kirk (which adversaries without and within, taking advantage of our divisions and distractions are labouring to subvert) and as they love the establishing and promoving of the Kingdom of Christ in this Land, and will be answerable to him in the great Day, that they would, accepting of this offer of love, return unto unity with their Brethren in their severall respective places and Judicatories, and concur in an unanimous way, for preserving and promoving the Work of Reformation in all the parts thereof, and for electing of Commissioners to the next ensuing Generall Assembly. And if they shall (refusing to accept this offer) continue to hold up the divisions, the Assembly leaveth it to the judgement of all the Kirks of Christ abroad, to bear witnesse if we have not faithfully endeavoured for our part, to heal our present breaches; and if we shall not be free of the guilt of the sad consequences that may come to the Work and people of God in this Land, by continued distractions.
J. Makghie.
No. IV.
Edinburgh, 3 Aug. 1652. Ante mer. Sess. 19.
Act concerning admitting Expectants to their tryals, and Ruling Elders to act in Presbyteries and Synods.
The General Assembly having out of their earnest desire of the Peace and Vnity of this Kirk, condescended upon an Overture of Peace, and not onely propounded it to some Brethren who were here, opposite to the Publick Judicatories of this Kirk, But also in pursuance of that end, Ordained the said Overture to be presented, and offered by the several Presbyteries or Synods, to all in their respective bounds, who have Protested against, and Declined, or consented or adhered unto the Protestations and Declinatours made against this and the preceding General Assembly, and the conditions therein contained, to be required of them; And considering the great prejudice like to arise to this Kirk, by encreasing of our unhappy Differences and Distractions, if young men shal be admitted into the Ministery, which shall still blow the fire of contention, and continue in avowed opposition to, and contempt of the Publick Judicatories, Therefore Ordains Presbyteries to take special care, that upon the calling of any Expectant to a particular charge of the Ministery, before they admit him to his trials, they require him under his hand, to passe from the Protestations and Declinatours against this and the preceding General Assembly, if he hath been accessory to the same, and to promise and give assurance, that he shal abstain from holding up Debates and Controversies, about matters of Differences in this Kirk, since the Assembly 1650, in Preaching, Writing, or other wayes. Vpon the performance whereof, the Presbyterie shall proceed to his trials; if not, in that case, the Presbyterie shal forbear to proceed until the next General Assembly leaving liberty to the Presbyterie and Congregation for planting of the place otherwise. And the Assembly Ordains and requires, that Presbyteries be not sudden to lay by such young men as at first refuses or scruples to perform these conditions mentioned, but that pains be taken upon them to convince them of the reasonablenesse thereof, and to perswade them to embrace them, and to give them a competent time for that effect.