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
Besides the former, these are also marks of a Sectary; If any commend, and
recommend to others, or spread and divulge the erroneous books of
Sectaries, If any allow, avow, or use Conventicles or private meetings
forbidden by the Acts of the Generall Assembly 1641. and 1647. last past,
If any be unwilling, and decline to reckon Sectaries among the enemies of
the Covenant, from whom danger is to be apprehended, And (though we
disallow the abusing and Idolizing of learning to the patrocinie of Errour
or prejudice of piety) if any contemn literature as needlesse at best, if
not also hurtfull to a Minister.
When we thus expreste our selves for preventing the dangers of Sects and
Schismes, it is far from our intention to discourage any from the duties
of piety, and mutuall edification, according to the directions of the last
Assembly published in Print, and seriously recommended by them, or to give
any advantage to Malignants and Prophane persons, with whom it is frequent
to cast upon all those who adhere to former principles, and cannot approve
the present Engagement, the odious nick-names of Sectaries and
Independents. For the beter discovery of such prophane mockers, we give
these markes and characters. 1. They do prophanely and tauntingly abuse
the name of the Spirit, under that name deriding the work of Grace and
sanctification. 2. They esteem and speak of exercises of conscience, as
fancies, or fits of melancholy. 3. They mock at Family-worship and the
means of mutuall edification so much recommended by the last Assembly in
their directions. 4. They do usually calumniate godly Ministers, and
professors who follow holinesse, with the names of Sectaries, or the like
odious names, without any just cause: As we account all such to be enemies
to the practise and power of godlinesse; So we do exhort all the lovers of
truth to hold on in the way of holinesse through good report and ill
report, being stedfast, immovable, alwayes abounding in the work of the
Lord, forasmuch as they know their labour is not in vain in the Lord.
IV. That they do not concur in, nor any way assist this present
Engagement, as they would not partake in other mens sins, and so receive
of their plagues, but that by the grace and assistance of Christ they
stedfastly resolve to suffer the rod of the wicked, and the utmost which
wicked mens malice can afflict them with, rather then to put forth their
hand to iniquity.
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