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
We your Majesties most humble and loyal Subjects, The Commissioners from
all the parts of this your Majesties ancient and native Kingdome, and
members of the National Assembly, conveened at _Glasgow_, by your
Majesties special indiction, considering the great happinesse which
ariseth both to Kirk and Common-wealth, by the mutual embracements of
Religion and Justice, of truth and peace, when it pleaseth the Supreame
Providence so to dispose, that princely power and ecclesiastical
authoritie joyne in one, do with all thankfulnesse, of heart acknowledge,
with our mouthes doe confesse, and not only with our pennes, but with all
our power are readie to witnesse unto the world, to your Majesties never
dying glorie, how much the whole Kingdome is affected, and not only
refreshed, but revived, with the comfortable sense of your Majesties
pietie, justice, and goodnesse, in hearing our humble supplications, for a
full and free general Assembly: and remembring that for the present, a
more true and real testimonie of our unfained acknowledgement, could not
proceed from us your Majesties duetyful Subjects, then to walke worthie of
so royal a favour: It hath been our greatest care and serious endevour,
next unto the will of JESUS CHRIST, the great King of his Kirk redeemed by
his own bloud, in all our proceedings, joyned with our hearty prayers to
GOD, for a blessing from heaven upon your Majesties Person and government,
from the first houre of our meeting, to carie our selves in such
moderation, order and loyaltie, as beseemed the subjects of so just and
gracious a King, lacking nothing so much as your Majesties personal
presence: With which had we been honoured and made happie, we were
confident to have gained your Majesties Royall approbation to our
ecclesiastick constitutions, and conclusions, knowing that a truly
Christian minde and royall heart inclined from above, to religion and
piety, will at the first discern, and discerning be deeply possessed with
the love of the ravishing beautie, and heavenly order of the house of God;
they both proceeding from the same Spirit. But as the joy was unspeakable,
and the hopes lively, which from the fountaines of your Majesties favour
did fill our hearts, so were we not a little troubled, when wee did
perceive that your Majesties Commissioner, as before our meeting, he did
endevour a prelimitation of the Assembly in the necessarie Members
thereof, and the matters to bee treated therein, contrarie to the
intention of your Majesties Proclamation indicting a free Assembly
according to the order of this Kirk, and laws of the Kingdome: So from the
first beginnings of our sitting (as if his Lordship had come rather to
crosse, nor to countenance our lawful proceedings, or as we had intended
any prejudice to the good of Religion), or to your Majesties honour (which
GOD knoweth was far from our thoughts) did suffer nothing, although most
necessarie, most ordinarie, and most undenyable, to passe without some
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account