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
Wee have therefore thought it incumbent to us to put you in minde of the
one thing necessary, while you are so carefull and troubled about the
things of the world. And although we do not disallow your going abroad to
follow any lawfull calling or way of lively hood, yet seeing it cannot
profit a man although he should gain the whole world and lose his own
soul, and seeing you have travelled so farre, and taken so much pains to
get uncertain riches which cannot deliver in the day of the wrath of the
Lord, and which men know not who shall inherit; We doe from our affection
to the salvation of your immortall souls most earnestly beseech and warn
you to cry after knowledge and lift up your voyce for understanding,
seeking her as silver, and searching for her as for hid treasures, and so
play the wise Merchants in purchasing the Pearl of Price, and in laying up
a sure foundation for the time to come, by acquainting your souls with
Jesus Christ, and by faith taking hold of him whose free grace is now
offered and held out to sinners, excluding none among all the kindreds of
the earth who will come unto him. God forbid that you should let slip the
time and offers of grace, or neglect any warning of this kinde sent to you
in the name of the Lord. We shall hope better things of you, and that
knowing the acceptable time and the day of salvation will not alwayes
last, but the Lord Jesus is to be revealed from heaven with his mighty
Angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and
obey not the Gospel, you will the rather bestirre your selves timely and
with all diligence to seek the Lord while he may bee found, to endeavour
that you may have among you the ordinary means of grace and salvation, to
pray that God would give you Pastors according to his heart, who shall
feede you with knowledge and understanding, to consult also and agree
among your selves with consent of your Superiors under whom you live
(whose favour and good will we trust will not be wanting to you in so good
and necessary a work) for setting up the worship of God and
Ecclesiasticall Discipline among you according to the form established and
received in this your mother Kirk, and for a way of settled maintenance to
Pastors and Teachers, Which if you do, our Commissioners appointed to meet
from time to time in the intervall betwixt this and the next Nationall
Assembly, will bee ready (upon your desire made known to them) to provide
some able and godly Ministers for you, as likewise to communicate to you
our Directory for the publike worship of God, and our form of
Ecclesiastical Government and Discipline; together with the Confession of
Faith and Catechisme.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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