6 He pleadeth with that nation for breach of Covenant, as of old He did with His people, Turne, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am maried vnto yow; and I will take yow on of a citie, and two of a familie; and I will bring yow to Zion.' And as the on part of the Island hath renewed the Covenant with God, so He calleth the other part, and yow in particular of that citie to goe before the rest of the land in the same dewtie, and to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might in pleading for the establishment of the Government of His Sonne Christ by Assemblies and Presbyteries, that so yow may build the old waste places, and repair the desolations of many generatiouns. Wee need not put yow in mynde that the incursions of the wild boares of the forrest vpon the Vineyard of the Lord cannot but flow from the not seting vp of the hedge of discipline, and that when in the Kirk of Christ there is not on Lord, on Faith, on Baptisme, there must arise many false Christs and false prophets, insomuch (that if it were possible) they sould deceive the very elect. As therefore (Dearly beloved in the Lord) your testimony formerly given was to ws and to the Reformed Kirks no lesse refreshing then the raine vpon the new mowen grasse, so give ws leave to beseech yow in the Lord Jesus, since the eyes of the Lord are vpon yow, and angels and men and all the Reformed Kirks in the world are witnesses of your actions and sufferings, to acquyte yourselves as the Ambassadours of Jesus Christ, and without fear of men or fainting in this day of Jacobs trouble, to give seasonable warning to all the Kingdome of the sad and dangerous consequences of Irreligious and Licentious Tolleration of all Religions, the Idoll of indignation in that land that provocketh the eyes of His glorie, of altering the ancient and well established Government of the Kingdome, of the horrible blasphemies, heresies, and errors now abounding in the land, of Anarchie, abolishing of Magistracie, the sacred ordinance of God, which we cannot but looke on as the begining of woes, a seminarie of all violence, vnjustice, and oppressions, the continueing and increasing of the troubles of Britane, the vtter dissolving of all humane societies, the ruine of that famous Nation and Kirk, and which is most fearfull, the displaying of a banner against the Lord, and the kindleing of His wrath against the land which sall burne to the 175 bottome of Hell, as our Testimony, which we have sent vnto yow, doth (we trust) in some part discover. And as is well knowne to your selues, we are confident (dear brethren) that yow mynde the pretious promises of the Lord made to those who keepe the word of His patience, [that they] 'shall be kept from the hour of temptatioun which shall come on all the world to try them that dwell vpon the earth.' And we cannot but out of our owne experience shew yow how the Lord hath been gratiously pleased to cary ws through against the powers of the disaffected partie of this Kingdome, who endeavoured no lesse then the casting downe of all we builded these yeares bypast; and that it is now our joy and consolation that the Lord did disappoint them, vphold ws, and make good the word of His weak servants, who desire to be faithfull in His Cause and Covenant. There sould be cause, we acknowledge, to fear their fear, and to be discouraged, if we were not perswaded that the patrones, favourers, and abettors of these blasphemies and impure heresies had indicted warre against the Lord and His Christ. But since the Lord of Hosts is with yow, we hope, as His high Name is ingaged in this Covenant and Cause, neither Babylon nor Edome shall prevaile. But as the Lord hath shaken the throne of Antichrist, so will He lay waste the mountaine of Edome. "Therefore, being confident that the Lord shall make yow stedfast, vnmoveable, alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord, and sall incourage yow to renew the Covenant with the Lord, wee humbly beseech the God of Peace, that brought againe from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheepe, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant, to make yow perfect in every good worke to doe His will, working in yow that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Your loving brethren and servants in the Lord, Edinburgh 18 Januarij 1649. THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE GENERALL ASSEMBLY.' Lanerk. The Commission of the Generall Assembly doe seriously Town of recomend to the honourable Estates of Parliament the petition of the toune of Lanerk for redresse of their losses, and appoints Messrs. James Hamiltoun, Mungo Law, Alexander Livistoun, the Catechismes and Confession. and Alexander Colvill, and Mr. Robert Burnet to assist their supplication thereanent. Translatioun of The Commission of the General Assembly, considering how profitable it will be to the Kirks abroad that the Confession of Faith and Catechisme be translated in Lataine, Therefore they seriously recomend to Mr. John Adamson and Mr. Thomas Crafurd to doe the same with diligence.1 Letter to Munck. The nixt meeting the morne at 10 houres. Edinburgh, 19 Januarij 1649, ante meridiem. Sederunt:-MINISTERS.-Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator. Mr. Samuell Rutherfurd: Mr. John Adamson: Mr. Ephraim Melvill: Mr. Alexander Livistoun Mr. John Row: Mr. John Chalmer: Mr. David Strachan : Mr. John Lawder: Mr. James Hamiltoun: Mr. James Gutterie: Mr. Robert Ker: Mr. George Bennet: Mr. Hew Kennedy: Mr. Thomas Henderson: Mr. John Sinclare: Mr. Alexander Turnbull: Mr. John Home Mr. Patrik Sharpe : Mr. John Knox: Mr. Thomas Donaldson: Mr. John Smith: Mr. Alexander Dickson: Mr. Patrik Colvill: Mr. George Leslie. ELDERS.-Dundas: Whytbank : Mr. Alexander Pearson : Mr. Robert Burnet: William Browne. Concerning the petition of Dame Christian Ruthven, compleaning that shee is debarrit from the Covenant and Communion by Andro Duncason, as also being in the Church to hear and sie the same done and performed by others, the Comission refers and recomends the said matter to the Presbyterie. The Commission having received a letter from Generall Collonell Munck, Doe returne this answer : 'RIGHT HONORABLE,-We doe kyndlie accept of your letter Generall Major directed to ws of the date 14 December 1648, expressing how farre yow intend to be from obstructing of Presbyteriall Government, or the other pious ends of the Covenant in that countrey, together with your purpose to make it your constant endeavour to advance Christs Kingdome, the worke of Reformatioun, and the Vnitie of the well affected of both Nations. We 1 The earliest Latin editions known to me, however, are the Cambridge ones of 1656 and 1659, having at the end of the prefatory note the initials G.D. The Edinburgh edition of 1660, and the Glasgow one of 1670, are simply reprints of the Cambridge one, and have the prefatory note with the same initials, which are not those either of Adamson or Crafurd. 177 have also received letters from our Reverend brethren of the Presbyterie there, expressing the experience which they have already of your noble concurrence and countenance affoorded to them in the discipline of the Kirk, and their verie good hopes that yee will continew to strengthen their hands in all the work of the Lord, and particularlie in the foirsaid discipline, Vnto which our Reverend brother, Mr. Andrew Stewart, (who came from the said Presbyterie to ws) hath added his large testimony. We can only exhort yow (in the name of the Lord Jesus) to continue your endeavour for the establishment of Presbyteriall Government, and mantaining all the Articles of the Covenant, and such as adhere thereto in these parts where God hath given yow charge, In doeing whereof God will enable yow (according to your professed intention) to advance His Kingdom, the worke of Reformatioun, and the vnitie of them who are indeed wellaffected to truth, holines, and righteousnes in these Kingdomes. And thereby the hearts of all these thowsands of Gods covenanted people who are in that Kingdome of Ireland will be firmely knit vnto the Cause, and to all these who are stedfast and zealous in the pursuance thereof. Wee are not ignorant that yow will be tryed by insinuatiouns and entycements on the one hand, and by strong opposition on the other hand, both from Sectaries and Malignants. But be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, cleave to His truth, and the truth shall make yow free, and, further, it will preserve yow and cary yow through all difficulties maugre all opposition; Which that yow may be strengthened against and further enabled to all good dueties, according to your station, shall be the constant prayer of, Your affectionat friends to serve yow, Edinburgh 19 Januarij 1649. THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE GENERALL ASSEMBLIE.' 'Direct:-For the Right Honourable Generall Collonell George Monck these with our due respects present.' The Comissioners of the Generall Assembly, taking to Commission to consideration the petition given in to them in name of the Hamilton and Mr. James towne and paroch of Stirling for some Ministers to be appointed to tender the Solemne League and Covenant vnto them, and others to goe to Stirling. Order to Mr. John Smith for drawing the Table of Incest. pondering how necessarie it is that the renewing of the Covenant day of The Commission of Assembly, vnderstanding that the Comittee of Parliament appointed for the Overtures thinke it necessary before a perfect Act can be past in Parliament for punishing of incest by death, according to the Law of God, that the degrees of incest were cleared; And for this effect the Comission appoints Mr. John Smith to draw a table of the forbidden and vnlawfull degrees of consanguinity and affinitie for marriage, and to report to the Comission. The nixt meeting vpon Tuesday after sermon. Edinburgh, 23 Januarij 1649, ante meridiem. The brethren present continues the meeting till after noon. |