and pen, by tears and blood have more privately asserted; The smallest of Christs truths (if it be lawful to call any of them small) is of greater moment, then all the other businesses that ever have been debated since the beginning of the world to this day; But the highest of honours and heaviest of burdens is put upon you, to declare out of the sacred records of Divine Truth, what is the prerogitive of the Crown and extent of the Scepter of Jesus Christ, what bounds are to be set between Him ruling in his House, and powers established by God on Earth, how and by whom his House is to be governed, and by what wayes a restraint is to be put on those who would pervert his Truth, and subvert the faith of many. No doubt mountains of oppositions arise, and gulfs of difficulties open up themselves in this your way; But you have found it is God that girdeth you with strength and maketh your way perfect and plain before you, who hath delivered, and doth deliver, and will yet deliver. We need not put you in minde that as there lyeth at this time a strict eye on all, so in a special manner both you and we are ingaged to interpose our selves between God and these Kingdomes; between the two Nations, between the King and the People, for averting of deserved wrath, for continuing and increasing of a well grounded Union, for procuring as far as in us lyeth a right settling of Religion and Church-Government; That when we shall sleep with our fathers the Posterity here and abroad may be reaping the fruits of our labours. We are fully assured of your constant and sedulous promoving of this blessed Work, and of the Lords assisting and carrying you on therein: And are confident that your late experience and present sense of the great danger and fearfull confusion flowing from the rife and grouth of Sects and Sectaries not suppressed, hath stirred up in your hearts most fervent desires, and careful endeavours for remedying the same, wherein we exhort you to continue and abound; knowing that your labours shall not be in vain in the Lord, to whose rich grace we commend you, and the work in your hands. _Edinburgh 18 Juny 1646._ Subscribed in name of the General Assembly by the Moderator. _Recommendation to Presbyteries and Provincial Assemblies._ 1. The Assembly recommends to the several Presbyteries and Provincial Assemblies, to consider the interests of particular congregations, in the calling, and admission of Ministers, with all these questions that usually fall out upon that occasion; And to report their opinions to the next Assembly, with some fit Overtures for preventing all contests in that matter. 2. The Assembly recommends to Presbyteries and Provincial Assemblies to consider all the matters referred by preceding Assemblies to the consideration of Presbyteries, And to report their opinions therein to the next Assembly. _Act for a publike Fast before the next Assembly._