said Houses of Parliament: And in case any difference in opinion shall happen amongst the said persons so assembled, touching any the matters that shall be proposed to them as aforesaid, that then they shall represent the same, together with the reasons thereof, to both or either the said Houses respectively, to the end such further direction may be given therein as shall be requisite to that behalf. And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That, for the charges and expences of the said Divines, and every one of them, in attending the said service, there shall be allowed every one of them that shall so attend, during the time of their said attendance, and for ten days before and ten days after, the sum of four shillings for every day, at the charges of the Commonwealth, at such time, and in such manner as by both Houses of Parliament shall be appointed. And be it further ordained, That all and every the said Divines, so, as aforesaid, required and enjoined to meet and assemble, shall be freed and acquitted of and from every offence, forfeiture, penalty, loss, or damage, which shall or may ensue or grow by reason of any non-residence or absence of them, or any of them, from his or their, or any of their church, churches, or cures, for or in respect of their said attendance upon the said service; any law or statute of nonresidence, or other law or statute enjoining their attendance upon their respective ministries or charges, to the contrary thereof notwithstanding. And if any of the persons above named shall happen to die before the said Assembly shall be dissolved by order of both Houses of Parliament, then such other person or persons shall be nominated and placed in the room and stead of such person or persons so dying, as by both the said Houses shall be thought fit and agreed upon; and every such person or persons, so to be named, shall have the like power and authority, freedom and acquittal, to all intents and purposes, and also all such wages and allowances for the said service, during the time of his or their attendance, as to any other of the said persons in this ordinance is by this ordinance limited and appointed. Provided always, That this ordinance, or any thing therein contained, shall not give unto the persons aforesaid, or any of them, nor shall they in this Assembly assume to exercise any jurisdiction, power, or authority ecclesiastical whatsoever, or any other power than is herein particularly expressed. Assembly at EDINBURGH, August 19, 1643. Sess. 14. Commission of the General Assembly to some Ministers and Ruling Elders, for repairing to the Kingdom of England. THEO General Assembly of the Church of Scotland finding it necessary to send some godly and learned of this Kirk to the kingdom of England, to the effect under written; therefore gives full power and commission to Mr Alexander Henderson, Mr Robert Douglas, Mr Samuel Rutherford, Mr Robert Baillie, and Mr George Gillespie, Ministers, John Earl of Cassilis, John Lord Maitland, and Sir Archibald Johnstoun of Warristoun, Elders, or any three of them, whereof two shall be Ministers, to repair to the kingdom 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 kingdom; 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 Form of Kirk-government, one Confession of Faith, one Catechism, one Directory 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 Majesty the humble answer sent from this Assembly to His Majesty's letter, by such occasion as they shall think convenient; and sicklike, to deliver the Assembly's answer to the letter sent from some well-affected brethren of the minis try there; and generally authorises 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. Many of the persons who were called by the foresaid Ordinance of the Lords and Commons (in that broken state of the Church) to attend the Assembly appeared not; whereupon the whole work lay on the hands of the persons hereafter men tioned. The Promise and Vow taken by every Member admitted to sit in the Assembly. 14. B. do seriously promise and vow, in the presence of Almighty GOD, That in this Assembly, whereof I am a member, I will maintain nothing in point of doctrine, but what I believe to be most agreeable to the word of GOD; nor in point of discipline, but what may make most for God's glory, and the peace and good of this Church. A List of the Divines who met in the Assembly at Westminster. DR WILLIAM TWISSE of Newbury, Prolo- Dr Cornelius Burges of Waterford, Dr William Gouge of Blackfriars, London, Stanley Gower of Brampton Bryan, Dr Thomas Temple of Battery, Dr Humphrey Chambers of Claverstoun, Christopher Tesdale of Uphusborne, George Walker, B.D. Edmund Calamy, B. D. of Aldermanbury, Joseph Caryl of Lincoln's Inn, Dr Henry Wilkinson senior of Waderston, Nicholas Profit of Marlborough, Stephen Marshall, B. D. of Finchingfield, Thomas Wilson of Otham, Thomas Hodges of Kensington, Thomas Baillie of Mildenhall, B.D. Francis Taylor of Yalding, Thomas Young of Stownmarket, Thomas Valentine, B. D. of Chalfont, Richard Clayton of Showers, Charles Herle of Winwick, prolocutor Herbert Palmer, B.D. of Ashwel, assessor Daniel Cawdrey of Great Billing, Dr Francis Cheynel of Oxen, Dr Henry Wilkinson younger of Oxford, Edward Corbist of Marton College, Ox Samuel Gibson of Burley, William Carter of London, John Maynard of Mayfield, William Price of Paul's Church in Covent John Whincop of St Martins in the William Bridge of Yarmouth, Peter Sterry of London, William Mew, B. D. of Eslington, Benjamin Pickering of East Hoatly, John Strickland of St Edmonds in Sarum, Humphrey Hardwick, Jasper Hicks of Lawrick or Lanrake, St John Bond, Henry Hall, B. D. of Norwich, Thomas Ford of London, afterwards of Thomas Thorogood of Massingham, Peter Clerk of Kerby Underhill, William Good, John Foxcroft of Cotham, John Ward, Richard Byfield of Long-Ditton, Francis Woodcock, John Jackson of Marske, Commissioners from the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. ALEXANDER HENDERSON of Edinburgh, George Gillespie of Edinburgh, Ministers, John Lord Maitland, afterwards Duke of [Ruling Elders, Sir Archibald Johnstoun of Waristou, John Wallis, Scribes. A Assembly at EDINBURGH, August 27, 1847, Sess. 23. Act approving the CONFESSION of FAITH, CONFESSION of Faith for the Kirks of God in the three kingdoms, being the chiefest part of that uniformity in religion, which by the Solemn League and Covenant, we are bound to endeavour: And there being accordingly a Confession of Faith agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster, with the assistance of Commissioners from the Kirk of Scotland; which Confession was sent from our Commissioners at London to the Commissioners of the Kirk met at Edinburgh in January last, and hath been in this Assembly twice publickly read over, examined, and considered; copies thereof being also printed, that it might be particularly perused by all the members of this Assembly, unto whom frequent intimation was publickly made, to put in their doubts and objections, if they had any: And the said Confession being, upon due examination thereof, found by the Assembly to be most agreeable to the word of God, and in nothing contrary to the received doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Kirk. And, lastly, It being so necessary, and so much longed for, that the said Confession be, with all possible diligence and expedition, approved and established in both kingdoms, as a principal part of the intended uniformity in religion, and as a special means for the more effectual suppressing of the many dangerous errors and heresies of these times; the General Assembly doth therefore, after mature deliberation, agree unto, and approve the said Confession, as to the truth of the matter; (judging it to be most orthodox, and grounded upon the word of God;) and also, as to the point of uniformity, agreeing for our part, that it be a common Confession of Faith for the three kingdoms. The Assembly doth also bless the Lord, and thankfully acknowledge his great mercy, in that so excellent a Confession of Faith is prepared, and thus far agreed upon in both kingdoms; which we look upon as a great strengthening of the true reformed religion against the common enemies thereof. But, lest our intention and meaning be in some particulars misunderstood, it is hereby expressly declared and provided, That the not mentioning in this Confession the several sorts of ecclesiastical officers and assemblies, shall be no prejudice to the truth of Christ in these particulars, to be expressed fully in the Directory of Government. It is further declared, That the Assembly understandeth some parts of the second article of the thirtyone chapter only of kirks not settled, or constituted in point of government: And that although, in such kirks, a synod of Ministers, and other fit persons, may be called by the Magistrate's authority and nomination, without any other call, to consult and advise with about matters of religion; and although, likewise, the Ministers of Christ, without delegation from their churches, may of themselves, and by virtue of their office, meet together synodically in such kirks not yet constituted, yet neither of these ought to be done in kirks constituted and settled; it being always free to the Magistrate to advise with synods of ministers and ruling elders, meeting upon delegation from their churches, either ordinarily, or, being indicted by his authority, occasionally, and pro re nata; it being also free to assemble together synodically, as well pro re nata as at the ordinary times, upon delegation from the churches, by the intrinsical power received from Christ, as often as it is necessary for the good of the Church so to assemble, in case the Magistrate, to the detriment of the Church, withhold or deny his consent; the necessity of occasional assemblies being first remonstrate unto him by humble supplication. A. KER. CHARLES I. Parl. 2. Sess. 2. Act 16. Act anent the Catechisms, Confession of Faith, and Ratification thereof. THE Estates of Parliament, now presently convened in this second Session Tof the second triennial Parliament, by virtue of an Act of the Commit tee of Estates, who had power and authority from the last Parliament for convening the Parliament, having seriously considered the Catechisms, viz. the Larger and Shorter ones, with the Confession of Faith, with three Acts of Approbation thereof by the Commissioners of the General Assembly, presented unto them by the Commissioners of the said General Assembly; do ratify and approve the said Catechisms, Confession of Faith, and Acts of Approbation of the same, produced as it is; and ordains them to be recorded, published, and practised. ACT 7th June 1690. Ratifying the Confession of Faith, and settling Presbyterian Church Government. UR Sovereign Lord and Lady, the King and Queen's Majesties, and three O Estates of Parliament, conceiving it to be their bounden duty, after the great deliverance that God hath lately wrought for this Church and Kingdom, in the first place to settle and secure therein the true Protestant religion, according to the truth of God's word, as it hath of a long time been professed within this land; as also the government of Christ's Church within this Nation, agreeable to the word of God, and most conducive to the advancement of true piety and godliness, and the establishing of peace and tranquillity within this realm,-they, by these presents, ratify and establish the Confession of Faith now read in their presence, and voted and approven by them, as the public and avowed Confession of this Church, containing the sum and substance of the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches, (which Confession of Faith is subjoined to this present Act,) as also they do establish, ratify, and confirm the Presbyterian Church Government and Discipline; that is to say, the Government of the Church by Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies, ratified and established by the 114 Act James VI., Parl. 12, Anno 1592, entitled Ratification of the Liberty of the Kirk, &c., and thereafter received by the general consent of this nation, to be the only Government of Christ's Church within this kingdom; reviving, renewing, and confirming the same in the whole heads thereof, except that part of it relating to Patronages, which is hereafter to be taken into consideration. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH: AGREED UPON BY THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, AS A PART OF THE COVENANTED UNIFORMITY IN RELIGION BETWIXT THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE KINGDOMS OF SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, AND IRELAND. APPROVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1647, AND RATIFIED AND ESTABLISHED BY WITH THE PROOFS FROM THE SCRIPTURE. |