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 Earl 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 Ministry 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 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.
Commission for the Publick Affairs of this Kirk.
The General Assembly, considering the laudable costome of this Kirk, in appointing Commissions betwixt Assemblies for the publick affairs of the Kirk, and the commendable practice of the late Assembly at Saint Andrews, in appointing their Commission for prosecuting the blessed Work, for uniting the Kirks of this Island in Religion and Kirk-government, by all lawfull and Ecclesiastick wayes, [pg 208] for continuance of our own peace at home, and of the common peace bytwixt the two Nations, and for other good ends, as at length is exprest in that Commission: And finding that the painful endevours and proceedings of that Commission, unanimously approven in this Assembly, though they have much advanced that glorious Work of Unity in Religion and Government; Yet has not brought the samine to full perfection and a finall accomplishment: And the Assembly being now much animate and encouraged to prosecute that Work by the Parliament of England their Bills past against Episcopacie, and sundry other corruptions, and the good hopes of a solemne Covenant betwixt the Nations, And conceiving that in their times of danger there may be some occasions for conveening the Assembly, before the time indicted for their next meeting. Therefore the Assembly finding it necessary to appoint a new Commission, By these presents, nominates and appoints Mr Andrew Ramsay, Mr Alexander Henderson, Mr Robert Douglas, Mr William Colvil, Mr William Bennet, Mr George Gillespie, Mr John Adamson, Mr John Sharpe, Mr James Sharpe, Mr William Dalgleish, Mr David Calderwood, Mr Andrew Blackhall, Mr James Fleeming, Mr Robert Ker, Mr John Macghie, Mr Oliver Colt, Mr Hugh Campbell, Mr Adam Penman, Mr Richard Dickson, Mr Andrew Stevinson, Mr John Lauder, Mr Robert Blair, Mr Samuel Rutherfoord, Mr Arthur Morton, Mr Robert Traill, Mr Frederick Carmichell, Mr Mungo Law, Mr John Smith, Mr Patrick Gillespie, Mr John Duncan, Mr John Hume, Mr Robert Knox, Mr William Jameson, Mr Robert Mura, Mr Henry Guthrie, Mr James Hamilton, Mr Bernard Sanderson, Mr John Leviston, Mr James Boner, Mr Evan Cameron, Mr David Dickson, Mr Robert Bailzie, Mr James Cunninghame, Mr George Youngh, Mr Andrew Auchinleck, Mr David Lindsay, Mr Andrew Cant, Mr John Oiswald, Mr William Douglas, Mr Murdoc Mackenzie, Mr Coline Mackenzie, Mr John Monroe, Mr Walter Stuart, Ministers: Marquesse of Argyle, Earle Marshell, Earle of Sutherland, Earle of Eglintoun, Earle of Cassils, Earle of Dumsermling, Earle of Lawderdail, Earle of Lindsay, Earle of Queensberrie, Earle of Dalhouse, Lord [pg 209] Angus, Vicount of Dudhope, Lord Maitland, Lord Elcho Lord Balmarinoch, Lord Cowper, Sir Patrick Hepburne of Wauchtoun, Sir Archbald Johnstoun of Waristoun, Sir David Hume of Wedderborne, Sir Alexander Areskine of Duns, Sir William Cockburne of Langtoun, Sir Thomas Ruthven of Frieland, Sir James Arnos of Fernie, Sir Walter Riddell of that Ilk., Sir Lodonick Houstoun of that Ilk, Sir William Carmichael Fiar of that Ilk, Laird of Bonjedburgh, Laird of Libbertoun, Laird of Brodie, Sir John Smith, James Dennistoun, Master Barclay, John Rutherfoord, William Glendinning, John Sempill, John Kennedie, Master Alexander Douglas, To meet at Edinburgh the 21. day of August next, and upon any other day thereafter, and in any other place they shall think good. And gives and grants unto them, or any fifteen of them, there being twelve Ministers present, full power and Commission, to consider and performe what they finde necessary by Praying and Preaching, by supplicating his Majestie and all the Judicatories of this Kingdome, by Declarations and Remonstrances to the Parliament of England, to the Synod of Divines in that Kingdome, by Informations, Directions, Instructions to, and continual correspondence with the Commissioners, now designed by this Assembly to go to the Synod of Divines in England, or by any other lawful Ecclesiastick wayes, for furtherance of this great Work, in the Union of this Island in Religion and Kirk-goverment, and for continuance of our own Peace at home, and of the common Peace betwixt the Nations, and keeping of good correspondence betwixt the Kirks of this Island. With power also to them to concurre with the Lords of Councel, Commissioners of Peace, or with the Honourable Estates assembled in Convention or Parliament, or with their Committees and Commissioners, in prosecuting this good Work at home or abroad by all Ecclesiastick wayes. And suchlike with power to them to prevent the dangers conteined in the Remonstrance, presented unto the Convention [pg 210] of Estates by the Commissioners of the late Assembly in June last, and to prosecute the remedies of these dangers conteined in another Remonstrance, presented by the aids Commissioners to the Convention the 6. of July last by admonitions, directions, censures, and all other Ecclesiastick wayes. And further in case their Brethren of England shall agree to the Covenant betwixt the Kingdomes, the draught and frame whereof is now so unanimously approven in this Assembly Gives also unto the Persons foresaid, or the Quorum above-written, full Power and Authoritie to command and enjoyn the samine to be subscribed and sworn by all the members of this Kirk: And that in such order and manner, and with such solemnities as they shall think convenient for so great and glorious a Work; And to send their directions to Sessions, Presbyteries and Synods, for execution of their orders thereanent. And with power to proceed against any Person whatsoever, that shall refuse to subscribe and swear the said Covenant, with all the censures of the Kirk, or to refer the tryall and censures of such delinquents to Presbyteries or Synods as they shall think convenient. And such like gives unto the persons foresaids power and libertie, to call a General Assembly pro re nata, in case they shall finde the necessity of the Kirk, and this great Work to require the same: With full power also to them to give Answers in name of the Assembly, to all Letters sent to the Assembly from the Kirks of Holland, Zealand, or any other forraigne Reformed Kirks. And further gives power to them to promove the other desires, Overtures and recommendations of this, or of any former Assemblies to the Kings Majestie, Parliament or Convention of Estates, to the Lords of Councel, Session, Exchequer, Commissioners of Parliaments, for plantation of Kirks, for the common burdens, and for conserving the Peace. And suchlike gives as full power and Commission to them to treat and decerne in any other matters referred, or to be referred [pg 211] to them by this Assembly, as if the samine were herein particalarly insert. And generally gives unto the Persons foresaids, or the Quorum abovementioned full power and Authoritie, to do and performe all things which may advance, accomplish, and perfect the great Work of Unity of Religion, and Uniformity of Kirk-government in all his Majesties Dominions, and which may be necessary for good order in all the publick affairs of this Kirk, untill the next Assembly, ne quid detrimenti capiat Ecclesia. With als ample power in all matters particularly or generally above-mentioned, as any other Commission of General Assemblies, has had or been in use of before; They being alwayes countable to, and censurable by the next General Assembly, for their proceedings thereintill.
The General Assembly appoints the meeting of the next General Assembly, to be at Edinburgh the last Wednesday of May, in the year 1644.