The Acts of the General Assemblies of the Church of ScotlandChurch of Scotland. General Assembly
History
The Acts of the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland. General Assembly
Ecclesiastical law -- Scotland; Scotland -- Church history -- 17th century
were not able to get every thing framed to our minde, we have endeavoured
as much as we could, to preserve our own Reformation and practice, of
which our Brethren will give you accompt in the particulars, we hope, to
your satisfaction. That an Uniformitie in every thing is not obtained in
the beginning, let it not seem strange; The levelling of the high Mountain
of Prelacie, The laying aside of the Book of Common Prayer, The Directory
of Worship concluded in both Houses of Parliament, and the principall
Propositions of Church-government passed in the Assembly, all of them
according to the solemne League and Covenant, the greatest of all, are
three or foure witnesses to prove, that the Lord hath done great things
for us, whereof we are glad, and which make us _like them that dream_: And
we are sure, that not onely the Reformed Kirks, but the Papists will say,
The Lord hath done great things for them.
All that we desire, is: 1. That the Directory of Worship may be returned
by our Brethren with all possible expedition, that it may be published
here, and put in practise, as that which is extreamely longed for by the
good People, and will be a remedy of the many differences and divisions
about the Worship of God in this Kingdome, esspecially in this place: If
there be any thing in it that displeaseth, let it be remonstrate upon
irrefragable and convincing reason, otherwise ye will in your wisedome
give approbation to it. 2. If there be any particular differences among
some Brethren; which are not determined, but passed over in silence in the
Directory, and yet hinted at in the Letter from the Assembly, we hope that
in your wisedome ye will so consider of them, that they may be layde aside
in due time, and that in the mean while, till the Directory be concluded
and put in practice, there be no trouble about them, for that were as Snow
in Summer, and as Rain in Harvest. We know nothing of that kinde, that all
of us who love Unitie, Order, and Edification, may not perfectly agree in,
without scandall or disturbance: And we beseech the Lord to keep that Kirk
free of such Sects and Monsters of opinions, as are daily set on foot and
multiplied in this Kingdome, through the want of that Church-government by
Assemblies, which hath preserved us, and we hope, through the blessing of
God, shall cure them. 3. Because Nationall Assemblies cannot frequently
conveene, we humbly desire, that such a Commission may be settled as we
may at all occasions till the Work be finished, have our recourse unto,
for our direction and resolution: for we know both our own weaknesse: and
the greatnesse of the Work: wherein we can promise no more but to be
faithfull in obeying your commandments, as in the sight of God, whom with
our Souls we pray, to grant you his Spirit, to guide you into all truth,
And thus continue.
_Worcester house, Jan. 6. 1646._
_Your humble and faithfull Servants._
_Subscrib._
Alex. Henderson.
Jo. Maitland.
Sam. Rutherfurd.
DIRECT.
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