O THE RECORDS OF THE COMMISSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLIES OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND-Geral HOLDEN IN EDINBURGH IN THE YEARS 1646 and 1647 Edited from the Original Manuscript by Ferrier ALEXANDER F. MITCHELL, D.D., LL.D. AND JAMES CHRISTIE, D.D. with an Introduction by the former assembly (1646-414) Printed at the University Press by T. and A. CONSTABLE INTRODUCTION THE six volumes of Church Records, of which this is the earliest, appear to have been borrowed, along with the original Ms. of Baillie's Letters and Journals and some other Mss. belonging to the General Assembly,' by the late Mr. David 1 The following are, in brief, the titles of these manuscripts :— I. The Actes and Proceedings of the Commission of the Generall Assemblie holden in Edinburghe in the yeir 1646. Do. in the yeir 1647. II. Minutes of Commissions 1648-49, 1649-50, and 1651-52. III. Minutes of Commissions 1650-51, wanting the printed papers. V. Results of the consultations of the Ministers of Edinburgh, and some other brethren of the ministry from divers parts of the land, meeting together from time to time since the interruption of the Assembly 1653, for mutual advice and counsel in the public affairs of this distressed and distracted Kirk, with other Papers of public concernment, which the brethren recommend to Mr. Andrew Ker, Clerk of the Assembly, to cause put together and keep in some Record for the use and benefit of this Kirk, and testimony of their care and faithfulness, 1652-1658. VI. Register of the Consultations and Proceedings of the Ministers of Edin. burgh, and some other brethren of the ministry, correspondents from presbyteries, who had their meetings together at several times and diets for communication of counsels, for the upholding presbyterial government and all the interests of the Church of Christ in this land now, during the time of the interruption of Assemblies; which the brethren recommend to Mr. Andrew Ker, Clerk of the Assembly present with them at all their meetings, to cause put together in some Book and Register, for public use and their exoneration; which meetings of Correspondents began in May 1654, and have continued since, and this Register, which is the second, begins in January 1659. This volume contains the correspondence between James Sharp, afterwards Archbishop of St. Andrews, and Mr. Robert Douglas. VII. Collections (partly мs., partly printed) on Ecclesiastical affairs, from 1645 to 1708. VIII., IX., X., XI., XII., XIII. Volumes of Letters on Ecclesiastical affairs, numbered 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31. XIV., XV., XVI. Original Ms. of Baillie's Letters and Journals. XVII. Ms. Lectures on various Books of the Old Testament, lettered on boards A. G. |