REASONS
FOR
A
generall
Assemblie
.
GOD
by
the
light
of
Nature
informing
all
persones
and
societies
to
studie
their
owne
preservation
,
teacheth
also
the
particular
kirkes
of
a
nation
,
as
the
members
of
one
bodie
,
to
draw
together
into
a
consociation
,
or
representative
meeting
,
for
the
preservation
of
the
whole
,
which
cannot
be
sufficiently
procured
by
the
particular
care
of
Sessions
,
Presbyteries
and
Synods
;
they
being
but
parts
thereof
,
and
no
more
independent
and
absolute
in
themselves
,
then
particular
corporations
civile
are
in
respect
of
the
whole
kingdome
:
So
that
by
Natures
light
,
the
Parliament
is
not
more
necessarie
for
the
estates
of
a
kingdome
,
then
is
a
nationall
Assemblie
for
the
particular
kirks
of
a
kingdome
.
The
Son
of
God
,
the
King
and
Head
of
his
Kirk
,
hath
gratiously
promised
,
where
two
or
three
are
gathered
together
in
His
Name
,
there
Hee
will
bee
amongst
the
mids
of
them
;
which
doeth
als
well
prove
the
Divine
originall
of
nationall
Assemblies
to
be
keeped
in
the
case
of
the
urgent
necessitie
of
the
Kirk
,
as
of
other
inferior
meetings
of
the
Kirk
:
And
therefore
the
Councels
of
old
used
this
for
their
warrand
,
and
the
Fathers
being
conveened
in
Councells
,
used
to
pray
for
the
presence
and
assistance
of
Christ
upon
this
ground
of
his
gratious
promise
.
The
holy
Ghost
filling
the
hearts
of
the
Apostles
,
moved
them
to
conveene
in
a
councell
at
Jerusalem
Act
:
15.
Whether
also
did
resort
the
Apostle
Paul
,
by
revelation
at
the
same
time
,
Gal:
2.1
.
For
keeping
that
Assemblie
,
as
both
ancient
and
moderne
Divines
observe
upon
that
place
,
for
which
cause
,
and
for
the
assistance
of
the
Spirit
which
brought
them
together
,
they
were
confident
to
give
out
their
determination
in
this
manner
:
It
seemed
good
to
the
holy
Ghost
,
&
to
us
.
The
Christian
kirk
directed
by
the
light
of
nature
,
confident
of
the
promise
of
Christ
,
and
warranted
by
the
divine
practise
of
the
Apostles
,
hath
in
all
ages
,
even
when
shee
was
persecute
by
the
powers
of
the
world
,
used
this
as
the
ordinarie
and
necessary
meane
for
uniforme
establishing
of
Religion
and
Piety
,
for
censuring
of
Heresie
,
and
for
removing
of
scandals
,
and
such
other
evils
as
by
Divine
providence
and
prediction
must
be
,
and
would
certainely
bring
division
,
and
desolation
upon
the
kirk
,
if
by
this
powerfull
remeady
they
were
not
cured
and
prevented
.
Both
Popish
and
reformed
Divines
agree
in
this
truth
:
That
although
God
by
his
omnipotencie
,
or
by
way
of
miracle
may
preserve
his
Kirk
on
earth
without
Assemblies
,
yet
in
the
ordinary
providence
of
God
,
Assemblies
are
necessary
for
the
right
governing
and
well
being
of
the
Kirk
.
Acording
to
this
Divine
right
the
Kirk
of
Scotland
keeped
her
generall
Assemblies
with
great
evidence
of
the
presence
and
blessing
of
God
from
heaven
;
For
while
they
continued
in
their
strength
(
far
contrary
to
that
which
we
have
seene
of
late
)
the
doctrine
was
by
them
preserved
against
error
and
heresie
,
the
worship
was
keeped
pure
against
superstition
and
idolatrie
;
the
Discipline
was
holden
in
integritie
against
confusion
and
tyrannie
;
unitie
&
peace
was
entertained
against
schisme
and
division
;
piety
and
learning
were
advanced
against
profanitie
and
idlenesse
,
every
man
had
his
gift
stiried
up
and
increased
,
every
gift
was
made
use
of
as
it
might
serve
for
the
good
of
the
kirk
;
and
all
went
from
these
assemblies
with
fresh
resolutions
,
and
fervent
zeale
for
the
worke
of
God
in
their
particular
places
.
The
libertie
of
this
kirk
for
bolding
assemblies
was
also
acknowledged
,
and
ratified
by
acts
of
Parliament
,
as
is
manifest
by
the
letter
sent
from
the
Assemblies
to
the
Earle
of
Morton
than
Regent
,
in
March
1573.
And
by
the
act
of
Parliament
in
the
year
1592.
For
such
necessary
causes
as
are
exprest
in
these
acts
,
which
being
neglected
,
religion
could
not
be
preserved
.
King
James
as
at
diverse
other
times
,
so
by
his
Commissioners
at
Lithgow
,
in
the
year
1606.
did
acknowledge
that
the
keeping
of
generall
assemblies
was
the
most
necessary
meane
for
preservation
of
piety
and
union
,
and
for
extermination
of
heresie
and
schisme
,
and
therefore
willed
that
the
act
of
Parliament
for
conveening
the
generall
Assemblie
once
in
the
year
should
stand
in
force
.
The
prelats
themselves
in
their
assemblie
at
Glasgow
1610.
expresly
acknowledged
,
that
the
necesside
of
the
Kirk
did
require
yearly
generall
Assemblies
,
and
the
act
of
that
assemblie
did
suppose
and
import
the
same
:
for
by
the
Act
they
were
made
lyable
to
the
censure
of
the
generall
Assemblie
in
their
life
,
office
,
and
benefice
in
generall
,
and
in
some
particulars
specified
therein
,
as
that
of
the
processe
of
excommunication
.
The
causes
noted
by
Divines
for
the
utilitie
and
necessitie
of
Councels
are
many
,
As
1.
For
suppressing
heresie
&
controversies
about
points
of
doctrine
:
2.
For
redressing
abuses
and
enormities
:
3.
For
appointing
,
restoring
,
or
preserving
the
Discipline
of
the
Kirk
:
4.
For
the
peace
of
the
Kirk
and
for
unitie
:
5.
For
the
mutuall
comfort
and
benefite
which
the
Godly
may
finde
in
their
meetings
,
by
stirring
up
,
and
acquainting
one
another
with
the
state
of
their
particular
kirks
:
6.
For
the
confirmation
of
doubting
mindes
in
the
trueth
:
7.
For
keeping
faithfull
Pastors
in
their
places
,
thrust
out
by
their
adversaries
,
perturbers
of
the
Kirk
:
8.
For
punishing
of
heretickes
,
or
such
as
introduce
novations
in
the
Kirk
.
Any
one
of
those
may
bee
a
sufficient
cause
of
conveening
a
generall
assembly
:
But
at
this
time
not
one
or
two
,
but
all
of
them
in
a
concurse
may
be
heard
,
crying
for
so
necessarie
a
remeadie
:
For
1.
The
doctrine
is
corrupted
by
Arminianisme
and
Popish
errors
.
2.
Abuses
and
enormities
through
the
governement
of
prelates
are
multiplied
:
3.
The
Discipline
of
this
Kirk
established
,
by
the
acts
of
assemblies
and
by
solemne
oath
,
is
not
only
perverted
,
but
overturned
:
4.
Peace
and
unitie
in
the
Kirk
is
turned
into
schisme
and
division
,
by
the
adversaries
,
who
have
minded
nothing
but
their
worldly
peace
,
and
increase
of
their
dignities
:
5.
Brethren
of
the
Ministerie
are
become
strangers
one
to
another
,
their
mindes
filled
with
suspitions
,
and
none
of
them
bettered
by
another
,
more
then
if
they
were
Ministers
in
sundrie
kingdomes
:
6.
Many
of
the
people
have
for
a
long
time
doubted
of
their
religion
,
not
knowing
what
hand
to
turne
to
,
when
they
found
such
diversitie
of
opinions
amongst
Pastors
.
7.
Faithfull
Pastors
have
beene
thurst
out
of
their
Ministerie
through
usurpation
of
the
prelats
and
their
adherents
,
who
take
the
greater
libertie
,
and
boldnesse
to
smite
their
Fellow-servants
,
that
there
bee
no
generall
Assemblies
to
controule
or
censure
them
:
8.
Arminian
and
popish
teachers
both
in
Kirks
,
and
schools
are
rather
rewarded
and
preferred
,
then
censured
and
controlled
:
And
therefore
except
Wee
will
suffer
religion
to
expire
,
and
the
Kirk
of
Christ
to
perish
by
consumption
or
by
combustion
,
Wee
must
resolve
upon
the
necessitie
of
generall
Assemblies
.
Objections
answered
.
THE
name
of
the
Kirk
belonges
to
the
prelates
,
and
the
meeting
of
Our
prelats
for
matters
of
religion
is
the
representative
Kirk
of
this
kingdome
.
The
prelats
cannot
bee
our
representative
Kirke
▪
1.
Because
they
are
not
office-bearers
of
this
Kirke
,
which
since
the
time
that
the
office
of
bishops
was
abolished
,
hath
never
to
this
day
acknowledged
any
such
office
,
as
is
now
exerced
by
them
.
2.
Although
the
office
of
our
prelats
had
beene
receaved
by
this
Kirk
,
yet
can
they
not
be
esteemed
the
Kirk
representative
,
since
both
in
the
Apostolick
councell
,
Acts
15.
and
in
many
other
councels
afterward
,
Presbyters
had
their
voces
,
and
the
spirits
of
the
Prophets
must
be
subject
to
all
such
as
by
gifts
and
calling
are
prophets
:
3.
Because
they
have
no
more
warrand
by
the
lawes
of
the
countrey
and
Acts
of
the
Kirk
to
represent
the
Kirk
,
then
some
few
citizens
,
turning
robbers
,
have
to
represent
the
corporation
of
the
city
,
or
some
small
fiction
rysing
in
a
kingdome
against
the
fundamentall
lawes
,
to
represent
the
whole
kingdome
,
or
an
impostume
growing
on
the
bodie
,
and
making
it
diseased
and
monstrous
to
represent
the
bodie
:
4.
It
is
manifest
by
the
acts
of
Parliament
and
Assemblies
,
that
this
kirk
and
kingdome
never
acknowledged
any
other
kirk
representative
since
the
reformation
,
but
the
generall
Assemblie
orderly
constitute
of
Commissionars
,
chosen
and
delegate
for
that
effect
.
2.
The
Service
book
,
and
new
Canons
represent
to
all
men
,
what
conclusions
wee
may
looke
for
from
the
prelates
,
if
they
were
acknowledged
to
bee
the
kirk
representative
:
And
Wee
may
safely
say
of
them
,
if
they
were
the
kirk
representative
,
what
is
by
all
our
Divines
affirmed
of
the
Romane
representative
kirk
,
made
up
of
the
members
of
the
Romane
hierarchie
,
that
it
cannot
be
the
true
kirk
.
Where
the
Christian
kirk
liveth
under
an
unchristian
Magistrate
,
Assemblies
of
the
Kirk
must
be
keeped
,
(
according
to
the
custome
of
the
Kirk
for
many
yeares
)
without
the
consent
of
the
Magistrate
:
But
where
the
Kirke
liveth
under
a
Christian
Magistrate
,
so
that
the
kirke
and
Commonwealth
make
but
one
corporation
:
the
Assemblies
of
the
kirk
must
depend
upon
the
indiction
of
the
Prince
or
Magistrate
,
who
is
the
head
of
the
republick
,
and
the
principall
member
of
the
kirk
.
Wee
humblie
acknowledge
that
the
supreme
Magistrate
hath
power
to
indict
the
Assemblies
of
the
kirk
,
and
when
in
his
wisedome
he
thinketh
it
convenient
,
he
may
by
his
authoritie
conveene
assemblies
of
all
sorts
,
whether
generall
,
provinciall
,
presbytries
,
or
kirk
Sessions
:
But
the
question
is
,
whether
he
may
prohibite
or
impede
them
,
when
the
necessities
of
the
Kirk
evidently
call
for
them
.
2.
No
man
will
thinke
that
a
republick
,
becoming
a
Christian
Kirk
,
should
losse
any
of
her
civile
liberties
,
why
then
shall
a
kirk
being
in
her selfe
a
perfect
republicke
,
although
of
another
kinde
,
because
shee
now
lives
under
a
Christian
Magistrate
,
losse
her
priviledges
,
or
suffer
diminution
in
her
Christian
liberty
,
whereof
the
holding
of
assemblies
is
a
necessary
part
:
3.
When
the
Christian
Magistrate
either
forbiddeth
,
or
in
the
urgent
necessity
of
the
Kirk
forbeareth
to
conveene
Assemblies
;
in
this
point
the
Kirk
is
left
to
her
own
libertie
,
and
must
provide
for
her
own
safetie
.
4.
The
great
wisedome
of
Iesus
Christ
,
the
King
of
the
Kirk
,
hath
provided
sufficient
supplies
for
all
her
necessities
,
and
fitting
remedies
for
all
her
evils
,
of
which
there
be
many
that
cannot
bee
helped
without
generall
Assemblies
;
and
therefore
,
not
only
the
Christian
Prince
,
but
the
pastors
of
the
Kirk
,
especially
when
the
indiction
cannot
be
obtained
of
the
Prince
,
are
bound
as
they
will
answer
to
Christ
to
provide
that
the
Ecclesiasticke
republick
receave
no
detriment
,
and
to
esteeme
the
safetie
of
the
Kirk
to
be
the
supreme
law
.
Although
the
libertie
of
the
Kirk
for
holding
assemblies
●ence
in
the
year
at
least
,
and
oftener
pro
re
nata
,
be
ratified
in
the
Parliament
1592.
yet
the
act
of
Parliament
1612.
acknowledgeth
the
indiction
of
the
generall
assemblies
to
pertaine
to
his
Majesty
by
the
prerogative
of
his
royall
crowne
,
and
therefore
abrogates
the
former
act
.
God
forbid
that
any
man
should
be
so
impious
,
Via
citationis
ac
publicae
authorizationis
,
by
way
of
citation
or
compulsion
by
authoritie
;
and
between
a
voluntarie
meeting
,
Per
viam
admonitionis
ac
requisitionis
,
by
way
of
Christian
admoniton
or
advertisement
;
the
former
is
so
proper
to
the
King
by
his
prerogative
,
that
it
can
neither
be
given
to
the
Pope
,
nor
to
any
forraine
power
,
nor
without
usurpation
can
be
claimed
by
any
of
his
Majesties
Subjects
.
Moses
only
may
blow
the
trumpet
;
The
other
is
proper
to
the
Kirk
and
her
office-bearers
,
which
neither
is
,
nor
can
be
taken
from
her
by
any
Act
of
Parliament
.
Secondly
we
are
to
distinguish
betweene
a
cumulative
or
rather
a
positive
power
of
calling
Assemblies
,
and
betweene
a
privative
or
destructive
power
,
The
former
is
acknowledged
by
the
Act
of
Parliament
to
belong
to
the
King
,
who
being
Custos
●triusque
tabulae
,
may
,
and
ought
,
pro
re
nata
,
call
the
assemblies
of
the
Kirk
,
but
the
other
cannot
be
meant
in
the
act
of
Parliament
1612.
1.
Because
it
doeth
not
confer
any
new
power
,
but
only
declareth
quo
jur●
his
former
power
of
indicting
(
which
is
only
set
down
in
the
act
1592.
)
doth
appertaine
to
him
:
2.
Because
in
the
act
1592.
it
was
found
that
the
Kings
power
of
indicting
generall
assemblies
,
and
that
by
vertue
of
his
prerogative
royall
,
might
consist
with
this
native
libertie
of
the
Church
,
to
appoint
the
time
and
place
of
her
necessare
assemblies
,
in
case
of
the
Kings
not
using
his
prerogative
by
appointing
them
:
and
the
act
of
the
Kings
prerogative
was
declared
to
conteine
no
derogation
to
the
liberties
and
priviledges
granted
by
God
to
his
Church
,
whereof
the
libertie
of
generall
assemblies
is
there
acknowledged
to
be
one
.
3.
Because
although
Cujus
est
nolle
,
ejus
est
&
velle
,
it
is
not
alwayes
reciprocall
,
Cujus
est
velle
,
ejus
est
&
nolle
,
and
4.
because
the
act
of
Glasgow
assemblie
,
whereof
the
act
of
Parliament
is
ratificatorie
,
acknowledgeth
the
necessitig
of
yearlie
generall
assemblies
.
Thirdlie
,
We
must
observe
the
difference
betwixt
the
indiction
,
or
calling
of
assemblies
considered
absolutelie
,
and
in
respect
of
the
circumstances
of
time
and
place
,
Indictio
simpliciter
,
and
secundum
quid
,
the
act
of
Parliament
intendeth
no
further
but
touching
the
circumstancess
of
the
place
,
as
in
what
town
the
assemblie
shall
conveene
,
and
of
the
time
in
what
Moneth
of
the
year
,
and
what
day
of
the
moneth
,
as
is
evident
by
the
act
of
1592.
which
giveth
this
libertie
of
time
and
place
to
the
assemblie
,
when
the
Kings
Majestie
or
his
Commissioner
doth
not
appoint
them
.
FINIS
.