❧
In
the
nationall
Assemblie
at
Edinburgh
the
fourth
day
of
August
,
1641.
THe
Assemblie
seriously
considering
the
present
case
and
condition
of
this
Kirk
and
Kingdome
,
what
great
things
the
Lord
hath
done
for
us
;
especially
since
the
renewing
of
our
Covenant
,
notwithstanding
our
former
backslydings
and
defection
.
And
if
we
either
become
remisse
in
the
duties
of
pietie
,
or
shall
not
constantly
hold
and
keep
our
Religion
,
unto
which
we
have
bound
our selves
so
straitly
and
solemnly
,
what
dishonour
we
do
unto
the
name
of
God
before
men
,
who
have
their
eyes
upon
us
,
and
how
great
judgement
we
bring
upon
our selves
.
Upon
these
and
the
like
considerations
,
The
Assembly
doth
finde
it
most
necessary
to
stir
up
themselves
,
and
to
provoke
all
others
,
both
Ministers
and
People
of
all
degrees
,
not
onely
to
the
religious
exercises
of
publick
worship
in
the
congregation
,
and
of
private
worship
in
their
families
,
and
of
every
one
,
by
themselves
apart
;
but
also
to
the
duties
of
mutuall
edification
,
by
instruction
,
admonition
,
exhorting
one
another
to
forwardnesse
in
Religion
,
and
comforting
one
another
in
whatsoever
distresse
,
and
that
in
all
their
meetings
,
whether
in
the
way
of
civill
conversation
,
or
by
reason
of
their
particular
callings
,
or
any
other
occasions
offered
by
divine
providence
,
no
corrupt
communication
proceed
out
of
their
mouth
,
but
that
which
is
good
to
the
use
of
edifying
,
that
it
may
minister
grace
unto
the
hearers
.
And
because
the
best
means
have
been
,
and
may
still
be
despised
or
abused
,
and
particularly
the
duety
of
mutuall
edification
,
which
have
been
so
little
in
use
,
and
so
few
know
to
practise
in
the
right
manner
,
may
be
upon
the
one
part
subject
to
the
mocking
of
ungodly
and
worldly
men
,
who
can
not
endure
that
in
others
which
they
are
not
willing
to
practise
themselves
:
And
upon
the
other
part
,
to
many
errours
and
abuses
,
which
the
godlie
through
their
weaknesse
may
fall
,
or
by
the
craftinesse
of
others
may
be
drawn
into
,
Such
as
are
errour
,
heresie
,
schisme
,
scandall
,
self-conceit
,
and
despising
of
others
,
presuming
above
the
common
calling
of
Christians
,
and
usurping
that
which
is
proper
to
the
Pastorall
vocation
,
contempt
,
or
mis-regard
of
the
publick
means
,
idle
and
unprofitable
questions
,
which
edifie
not
,
uncharitable
censurings
,
neglect
of
dueties
in
particular
callings
,
businesse
in
other
mens
matters
and
callings
,
and
many
such
evils
in
doctrine
,
charity
,
and
manners
,
which
have
dolefully
rent
the
bowels
of
other
Kirks
,
to
the
great
prejudice
of
the
Gospel
.
Therefore
the
Assembly
moved
with
the
zeal
of
God
against
all
abuses
and
corruptions
,
and
according
to
their
manifold
obligation
,
most
earnestly
desiring
,
&
thirsting
to
promove
the
work
of
reformation
,
and
to
have
the
comfort
and
power
of
true
godlinesse
sensible
to
every
soul
,
and
Religion
to
bee
universally
practised
in
every
family
,
and
by
every
person
at
all
occasions
,
doth
charge
all
the
Ministers
and
members
of
this
Kirk
,
whom
they
do
represent
,
that
according
to
their
several
places
and
vocations
,
they
endeavour
to
suppresse
all
impiety
,
and
mocking
of
religious
exercises
;
especiall
of
such
as
put
foule
aspersions
and
factious
,
or
odious
names
upon
the
godly
;
and
upon
the
other
part
,
that
in
the
fear
of
God
they
bee
aware
,
and
spiritually
wise
,
that
under
the
name
and
pretext
of
religious
exercises
,
otherwise
lawfull
and
necessary
,
they
fall
not
into
the
foresaid
abuses
;
and
specially
that
they
eschew
all
meetings
which
are
apt
to
breed
errour
,
scandal
,
schisme
,
neglect
of
dueties
and
particular
callings
,
And
such
other
evils
as
are
the
works
not
of
the
Spirit
,
but
of
the
flesh
,
and
are
contrary
to
truth
and
peace
;
and
that
the
Presbyteries
and
Synods
have
a
care
to
take
order
with
such
as
transgresse
the
one
way
or
the
other
.
Right
Reverend
and
beloved
Brethren
.
THese
times
past
many
Letters
have
been
directed
unto
you
,
for
keeping
daies
of
humiliation
.
But
now
(
which
is
the
mercy
of
God
upon
us
in
hearing
and
answering
of
our
prayers
)
the
seventh
day
of
September
approching
is
agreed
upon
by
the
Commissioners
of
the
Treatie
betwixt
the
two
Kingdomes
,
for
keeping
a
solemne
thanks-giving
in
all
the
Kirks
of
his
Majesties
Dominions
,
according
to
a
particular
Article
of
the
Treatie
,
wherin
it
is
also
agreed
,
that
all
Declarations
,
Proclamations
,
Acts
,
Books
,
Libels
,
&
Pamphlets
,
that
have
been
made
&
published
against
the
Loyalty
and
Duetifulnesse
of
his
Majesties
subjects
of
Scotland
shall
be
recalled
,
supprest
and
forbidden
in
England
and
Ireland
:
and
that
upon
the
day
of
Thanksgiving
the
loyalty
of
his
Majesties
said
Subjects
shall
be
made
known
in
all
places
,
and
particularly
in
the
paroch
Kirks
of
his
Maties
Dominions
.
Thus
much
are
we
commanded
by
the
King
and
Estates
of
Parliament
,
and
by
the
Commissioners
of
the
Generall
Assembly
,
with
speed
to
make
known
unto
you
,
that
the
moderators
of
the
Presbiteries
may
give
advertisement
to
all
the
brethren
for
intimating
the
same
to
the
people
the
Sabboth
before
,
which
will
be
the
fift
of
September
,
and
in
case
these
shall
not
come
timeously
to
your
hands
for
observing
that
day
,
That
the
next
Tuesday
after
the
Letter
cometh
to
the
Moderator
of
every
Presbitery
be
observd
.
We
have
no
cause
to
doubt
but
all
that
fear
God
,
and
have
given
themselves
to
observe
his
wonderful
waies
with
us
this
time
past
,
will
go
cheerfully
about
this
so
desireable
and
delectable
a
worke
,
especially
now
when
our
Army
is
returned
in
safetie
and
peace
from
England
:
all
our
difficultie
will
be
to
get
it
done
by
our selves
and
the
people
in
such
a
manner
as
may
not
provoke
but
please
the
Lord
,
which
we
must
recomend
unto
your
wisedome
,
zeale
,
and
diligence
as
earnestly
and
with
as
great
fear
and
solicitude
as
ever
we
did
any
Duty
since
the
beginning
of
this
worke
:
For
ye
know
a
spirituall
thanksgiving
and
rejoycing
is
an
excercise
of
no
lesse
difficulty
then
prayer
and
extraordinary
Humiliation
;
we
remit
the
particulars
unto
your self
,
only
we
wish
that
the
people
conceave
it
not
to
be
a
day
for
eating
and
drinking
and
rising
up
to
play
,
but
that
both
before
and
afternoone
they
assemble
for
hearing
and
meditating
upon
the
speciall
and
extraordinary
favours
and
benefits
which
are
the
occasion
of
this
spirituall
solemnitie
,
and
upon
other
mercies
which
thereby
should
be
brought
to
their
remembrance
,
and
by
singing
of
Psalmes
both
in
the
publick
congregation
,
and
in
private
families
,
and
that
the
love
and
care
of
Christ
be
so
far
exalted
,
that
we
may
all
see
our
owne
unworthines
,
may
rejoyce
in
his
grace
and
goodnesse
,
may
have
our
faith
and
confidence
in
God
for
afterward
confirmed
,
and
may
remember
and
renew
our
vowes
and
solemn
promises
made
in
our
Covenant
,
both
of
piety
to
God
,
and
of
love
amongst
our selves
,
and
concerning
this
last
point
we
think
it
very
convenient
that
the
act
of
the
late
assembly
be
read
in
everie
Pulpit
,
&
the
particular
duties
conteined
in
it
be
earnestly
recommended
to
the
people
,
that
they
may
be
practised
by
them
&
all
the
ministers
.
This
time
now
appointed
being
kept
in
this
manner
by
us
with
other
Kirks
in
his
Majesties
dominions
wilbe
a
good
preparation
for
another
day
of
thanksgiving
after
the
closing
of
the
Parliament
to
be
observed
by
all
the
Kirks
of
this
Kingdome
by
it selfe
,
as
being
bound
in
a
singular
manner
,
and
above
all
the
rest
to
magnifie
the
name
of
God
for
his
mercies
,
and
for
bringing
our
native
King
amongst
us
to
be
an
instrument
of
so
many
blessings
:
But
concerning
this
advertisement
shall
be
given
afterward
:
Beseeching
the
Lord
who
is
worthy
to
be
praised
,
and
waiteth
for
praise
from
us
,
above
all
Nations
,
to
direct
,
sanctifie
and
assist
you
all
,
Wee
continue
in
him
,
Edinburgh
,
August
25.
1641.
Your
loving
Brethren
subscriving
in
name
of
the
Commissioners
of
the
Generall
Assembly
-
M.
Alexander
Henderson
late
Moderator
.
-
M.
Archibald
Johnston
,
Cle
.
Eccl.