D. D. .f. M. P.

Roger Drake. William Taylor. Samuel Anncsley. Thomas Gouge. Charles Offspring. Arthur Jackson. John Cross. Saniutl Clerk. Samuel Slater. Wiiliam Whiwker.
John Fuller. James Naltnn. 'J homas Goodwin. Matd-.ew Pool. William Bates. John Loder. Francis Rawoith. Wiiliani Cooper. William Jtnkiu. Thomas Manton. Thomas Jacomb. George Griffiths,
Edward Perkins. Ralph Venning. Jeremiah Burwel. Joseph Church. Has. Brldgts. Samuel Smith.' banmel Rowks. John Glascock. Leo. Cooke. John Sheffield. Matthew Haviland. WiUiau Black]uore«
Richard Kentish. Alexander Pringle. Will'am Wickins. Thomas Watson. John Jackson. John Seabrooke. John Peachie. James Jonife. Obadlan Lee,
Mr.
[
Mr. Thomas MaNTON^S Epistle to the Header,
CHRISTIAN READER,
T CANNOT suppose thee to be such a stranij^er in England -*■ as to be ignorant of the general comphiint concerning the decay of the power of godHness, and more especially of tiie great corruption of youth. AVherever thou goest, tliou wilt hear men crying out of bad children and bad servants ; whereas indeed the source of the mischief must be sought a little higher : it is bad parents and bad masters that make bad children and bad servants ; and we cannot blame so V !ich their untowardness, as our own negligence in their iication.
The devil hath a great spite at the kingdom of Christ, v id he knoweth no such compendious way to crush it in the e}rg^ as by the perversion of youth, and supplanting family duties. He striketh at all those duties whicli are publick in the assemblies of the saints ; but these are too well guarded by the solemn injunctions and dying charge of Jesus Christ, as that he sliould ever hope totally to subvert and under- mine them ; but at family-duties he striketh with the more success, because the institution is not so solenm, and the practice not so seriously and conscientiously regarded as it sliouhl be, and the omission is not so liable to notice and
.hlick censure. Religion was lirst hatched in families, ^y
.iiid there tlie devil seeketh to crush it ; the families of the
Patriarchs were all the Churches God had in the world for
the time; and therefore, (I suppose,) when Cain went out
from Adam's family, he is said to go out from the face of
the Lord, Gen. iv. IfJ. Now, the devil knoweth that tliis
is a blow at the root, and a ready way to prevent the suc-
^sion of Churches : if he can subvert families, other
I ieties and comnumities will not long flourish and subsist
ith any power and vigour; for there is the stock from
whence they are supplied both for the present and future.
For the present : A family is the seminary of Church and
State ; and if children be not well princij)led there, all mis-
carrieth : a fault in the first concoction is not mended in
the second ; if youth be bred ill in the family, they prove
A 5 ill
10 The Epistle to the Rcadir,
ill in Church and Commonwealth; there is the first making or marring, and the presage of their future lives to be thence taken, Prov. xx. 11. By family discipline, officers are trained up for the Church, 1 Tim. iii. 4. One that ru- leth well his own house, &c. ; and there are men bred up in subjection and obedience. It is noted, Acts xxi. 5. that the disciples brought Paul on his way with their wives and children ; their children probably are mentioned, to intimate, that their })arents would, by their own example and aflec- tionate farewell to Paul, breed them up in a way of reve- rence and respect to the pastors of the Church.
For the future: It is comfortable, certainly, to see a thri- vino; nursery of young plants, and to have hopes that God shall have a people to serve him when we are dead and gone : the people of God comforted themselves in that, Psal. cii. 28. The children of tky servants shall continue, &c.
Upon all these considerations, how careful should mini- sters and parents be to train up young ones whilst they are yet pliable, and, like wax, capable of any form and impres- i/^sion, in the knowled^'^e andjfcaj:^ God ; and betimes to in- stil the piTnciples ot our most holy faith, as they are drawn into a short sum in catechisms, and so altogether laid in the view of conscience ! Surely these seeds of truth planted in the field of memory, if they work npthing else, will at least be a great check and bridle to them, and, as the casting in of cold water doth stay the boiling of the pot, somewhat allay the fervours of youthful lusts and passions.
I had, upon entreaty, resolved to recommend to thee with the greatest earnestness tlie work of catechising, and, as a meet help, the usefulness of this book, as thus printed with the scriptures at large: but meeting with a private letter of a very learned and godly divine, wherein that work is ex- cellently done to my hand, I shall make bold to transcribe a part of it, and ofFer it to publick view.
The author having bewailed the great distractions, cor- ruptions, and divisions that are in the Church, he thus re- presents the cause and cure: "Among others, a principal cause of these mischiefs is the great and common neglect of the governors of fajiiilies, in the discharge of that duty which they owe to God for the souls that are under their
charge,
The EpiMe to the Rtaikr. 1 1
, csjKcially in teacliing them the doctnne of Chris. ity. Families are societies that must be sanctitied to God well as Churches ; and the governors of them have as truly a charge of the souls that are therein, iifl pastors have of the ^■lurches. But, alas, how little is this considered or re- ^Hrded! But while negligent muiisters are (deservedly) cast ^Ht of their places, the negligent masters of families take ^Hemselves to be almost blameless. They offer their children Hp God in baptism, and there they promise to teach them tb^ doctrine of the gospel, and bring them up in the nurture of the Lord ; but they easily promise, and easily break it ; and educate their children lor the world and the flesli, al- though they have renounced these, and dedicated them to od. This covenant-breaking with God, and betraying the ^^^^Is of their children to the devil, must lie heavy on them ^Hre or hereafter. They beget cliildren, and keep families, ^^prely for the world and the flesh: but little consider what ^^Kiarge is committed to them, and what it is to bring up a child for God, and govern a family as a sanctified society. O how sweetly and successfully would the work of God go on, if we would but all join together in our several places to promote it ! Men need not then run without sending to be
f)reachers; but they might find that part of the work that be- ongeth to them to be enough for them, and to be the best that they can be employed in. Especially women should be careful of this duty; because as they are most about their chil- dren, and have early and frequent opportunities to instruct them, so this is the principal service they can do to God in this world, being restrained from more publick work. And doubtless many an excellent magistrate hath been sent into the Commonwealth, and many an excellent pastor into the Church, and many a precious saint to heaven, through tiie happy {)reparations of a holy education, perhaps by a wo- man that thought herself useless and unserviceable to the urch. Would parents but begin betimes, and labour to .^iiect the hearts of their children with the great matters of everlasting life, and to acquaint them with the substance of the doctrine of Christ, and, when they find in them the knowledge and love of Christ, would bring them then to the pastors of the Church to be tried, confirmed, and ad-
A 6 mitted.
12 The Epistle to the Reader.
mitted to the further privileges of the Church, what happy, well-ordered Cliurches might we have ! then one pastor need not be put to do the work of two or three hundred or thou- sand governors of families, even to teach their children those principles which they should have taught them long before ; nor should we be put to preach to so many miserable igno- lant souls, that be not prepared by education to understand us ; nor should we have need to shut out so many from holy communion upon the account of ignorance, that yet have not the grace to feel it and lament it, nor the wit and pa- tience to wait in a learning state, till they are ready to be fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. But now they come to us with aged self-conceitedness^ be- ing past children, and yet worse than children still; having the ignorance of children, but being overgrown the teach- ableness of children ; and think themselves wise, yea, wise enough to quarrel with the wisest of their teachers, because they have 1' ed long enough to have been wise, and the evi- dence of their knowledge is their aged ignorance; and they are readier to flee in our faces for Church-j)rivileges5 than to learn of us, and obey our instructions, till they are pre- pared for them, that they may do them good ; like snappish curs, that will snap us by the fingers for their meat, and snatch it out of our hands; and not like children, that stay till we give it them. Parents have so used them to be unru- ly, that ministers have to deal but with too few but the un- ruly. And it is for want of this laying the foundation well at first, that professors themselves are so ignorant as most are, and that so many, especially of the younger sort, do swallow down almost any error that is offered them, and follow any sect of dividers that will entice them, so it be but done with earnestness and plausibility. For, alas ! thougli by the grace of God their hearts may be chan- ged in an hour, (whenever they understand but the essen- tials of the faith,) yet their understandings must have time and diligence to furnish them with such knowledge as must stablish them, and fortify them against deceits. Upon these, and many the like considerations, we should entreat all Chri- stian families to take more pains in this necessary work, and to get better acquainted with the substance oi Christianity.
And,
The Epistle to the B aider. 13
lul, to that end, (takin^f along some moving treatises to ake the heart,) I know not wliut work sliould be litter r their use, than that comniled by the Assembly at AVest- nster; a Synod of as godly, judicious divines, (notwith- anding all the bitter words which they have received from scontented and self-conceited men,) I verily think, as er England saw. Though they had the unhappiness to employed in calamitous times, when the noise of wars ,d stop men^s ears, and the licentiousness of wars did set very wanton tongut rnul j)en at liberty to reproach them, and the prosecution and event of those wars did exasperate j)artial discontented men to dishonour themselves by seek- ing to dishonour tliem ; I dare say, if in the days of old, wlien "ouncils were in power and account, they had had but such a council of bishops, as this of presbyters was, the fame of it for learning and holiness, and all ministerial abi-
■ties, would, with very great honour, have been transmit- Sd to posterity, i I do therefore dcsij-e, that all masters of families would rst study well this work themselves, and then teach it their children and servants, according to their several capacities. And, if they once undeistand these grounds of religion, they >vill be able to read other books more understandingly, and : ear sermons more profitably, and confer more judiciously, •id hold fast the doctrine of Christ more finnly, than ever ou are like to do by any other course. First, let them ad and learn the Shorter (,'atechism, and next the Larger, lid lastly, read the Confession of Faith.""
Thus far he, whose name I shall conceal, (though the xcellency of the matter, and present style, will easily dis- cover him,) because I have published it without his privi- ty and consent, thou approbation. I shall add no more, but that 1 am,
Thy servant,
in the Lord's work,
THOMAS MANTON.
An
[ H ]
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons asr,emhlcd in Parliament^ for the calling of an Assembly of learned and godly Divines, and others^ to he consulted with hy the Parliament^ for the settling of the government and lilurgi/ of the Church of England ; and for vindicating and clear' i7ig of the doctrine of the said Church from false aspersio?is and interpretations. June \2. 1645.
"IT7"HEREAS, amongst the infinite blessings of Almighty ^^ God upon this nation, none is nor can be more dear unto us than the purity of our religion; and for that, as yet, many things remain in th.e Hturgy, discipHne, and govern- ment of the Church, which do necessarily require a further and more perfect reformation than as yet hath been attained; and whereas it hath been declared and resolved by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that the present Church-government by archbishops, their chancellors, com- missars, deans, deans and chapters, archdeacons, and other ecclesiastical officers depending upon the hierarchy, is evil, and justly offensive and burdensome to the kingdom, a great impediment to reformation and growth of religion, and very prejudicial to the state and government of this kingdom ; and. therefore they are resolved that the same shall be taken away, and that such a government shall be settled in the Church as may be most agreeable to God's holy word, and most apt to procure and preserve the peace of the Church at home, and nearer agreement v/ith the Church of Scotland, and other lleformed Churches abroad ; and, for the better effecting hereof, and for the vindicating and clearing of the doctrine of the Church of England from all false calumnies and as- persions, it is thought fit and necessary to call an Assembly of learned, godly, and judicious Divines, who, together with some members of both the Houses of Parliament, are to consult and advise of such matters and things, touching the premises, as shall be proposed unto them by both or ei- ther of the Houses of Parliament, and to give their advice and counsel therein to both or either of the said Houses, when, and as often as they shall be thereunto required: Be it therefore ordained, by the Lords and Commons in this
27 present
4-
i 13 ]
present Parliament assembled, That all and every the per- sons hereafter in this present ordinance named, tJiat is to
say,
And such otlier person or persons as shall be nominated d appointed by both Houses of Parliament, or so many of em as shall not be letted by sickness, or other necessary ipediment, shall meet and assemble, and are hereby re- uired and enjoined, upon summons signed by the clerks of th Houses of Parliament, left at their respective dweH- gs,to meet and assemble themselves at V/estminster, in the hapel called King Henry the VII's Chapel, on the first day f July, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and forty-three; and after the first meeting, being at least the number of forty, shall from time to time sit, and be removed from place to place; and also that the said Assembly shall be dissolved in such manner as by both Houses of Parliament all be diiected : and the said persons, or so many of them shall be so assembled, or sit, shall have power and authorL- r, and are lierebv likewise enjoined from time to time, du,- ring this present Parliament, or until further order be taken " ly both the said Houses, to confer and treat among them- ves of such matters and things, touching and concerning the liturgy, discipline, and government of the Church of Eng- land, for the vindicating and clearing of the doctrine of the same from all false aspersions and misconstructions, as shall be proposed unto them by both or either of the said Houses of Parliament, and no other; and deliver their opinion, ad- vices of, or touching the matters aforesaid, as shall be most agreeable to the word of God, to both or either of the Hou- ses, from time to time, in such manner and sort as by both or either of the said Houses of Parliament shall be required; and the same not to divulge, by printing, writing, or other- wise, without the consent of both or either House of Parlia- ment. And be it fiuther ordained by the authority aforesaid, That William Twisse doctor in divinity shall sit in the chair, as prolocutor of the said Assembly; and if he happen to die, or be letted by sickness, or other necessary impediment, then such other person to be appointed in his place as shall be agreed on by the said Houses of Parliament : And in case any difference in opinion shall happen amongst the said persons so
asseiwbled.
[ le ]
assembled, touching any the matters that shall he proposed to them as foresaid, that then they shall represent the same, together with the reasons thereof, to both or either the said Houses respectively, to the end such further direction may be given therein as shall be requisite to that behalf. And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid. That, for the charges and expences of the said Divines, and every one of them, in attending the said service, there shall be allowed every one of them that shall so attend, during the time of their said attendance, and for ten days before and ten days after, the sum of four shillings for every day, at the charges of the Commonwealth, at such time, and in such "manner, as by both Houses of Parliament shall be appointed. And be it further ordained, That all and every the said Divines, so, as aforesaid, required and enjoined to meet and assemble, shall be freed and acquitted of and from every offence, for- feiture, penalty, loss, or damage, which shall or may ensue or grow by reason of any non-residence or absence of them, or any of them, from his or their, or any of their church, churches, or cures, for or in respect of their said attendance upon the said service ; any law or statute of non-residence, or other law or statute enjoining their attendance upon their respective ministries or charges, to the contrary thereof not- withstanding. And if any of the persons above named shall happen to die before the said Assembly shall be dissolved by order of both Houses of Parliament, then such other person or persons shall be nominated and placed in the room and stead of such person or persons so dying, as by both the said Houses shall be thought fit and agreed upon ; and every such person or persons, so to be named, shall have the like power and authority, freedom and acquittal, to all intents and purposes, and also all such wages and allowances for the said service, during the time of his or their attendance, as to any other of the said persons in this ordinance is by this ordinance limited and appointed. Provided always. That this ordinance, or any thing therein contained, shall not give unto the persons aforesaid, or any of them, nor shall they in this Assembly assume to exercise any jurisdic- tion, power, or authority ecclesiastical whatsoever, or any other power than is herein particularly expressed.
Assembly
[ 17 ]
Assembly at Edinburgh^ August 19. 1643. Sess. 14.
Commission of the General Assemhij/ to some Ministers and Ruling Elders, for repairing to the Kingdom of England,
T^IIE General Assembly of the Church of Scotland find- •*- ing it necessary to send some godly and learned of this Kirk to the kingdom of England, to the efFect underwritten; therefore gives full power and commission to Mr. Alexander lenderson, Mr. Robert Douglas, Mr. Samuel Rutherford, Mt. Robert Baillie, and Mr. George Gillespie, Ministers, John Earl of Cassilis, John Lord ilaitland, and Sir Archi- bald Johnstoun of Warlstoun, Elders, or any three of them, whereof two shall be IMinisters, to rej)air to the kingdom of England, and there to deliver the declaration sent unto the Parliament of England, and the letter sent unto the As- sembly of Divines now sitting in that kingdom ; and to pro- pone, consult, treat, and conclude with that Assembly, or any Commissioners deputed by them, or any Committees or Commissioners deputed by the Houses of Parliament, in all matters which may further the union of this Island in one Form of Kirk-governrnent, one Confession of Faith, one 'Catechism, one Directory lor the worship of God, accord- ing to the instructions vrhich they have received from the Assembly, or shall receive.from time to time Jiereafter from the Commissioners of the Assembly deputed for that effect : with power also to them to convey to His Majesty the humble answer sent from this AFsembly to His Majesty"'s letter, by such occasion as they shall think convenient ; and sicklike, to deliver the Assembly's answer to the letter sent from some well-aflected brethren of the ministry there ; and generally authorises them to do all things which may further the so much desired union, and nearest conjunction of the two Churches of Scotland and England, conform to their instructions aforesaid.
May\y of the jJcrsons who were called by the foresaid Ordinance of (he Lords and Commons (in that broken stale of the Church) to attend the Assembhj appeared not ; whereupon the whole work laj/ on the hands of the 2)ersons hereafter mentioned.
The
[ IS ]
The Promise and Vow taken hy every Mtmbcr admitted to sit in the jfh'sembli/.
T J. B. do seriously promise and vow, in the presence ol •*■ Almighty God, That in tliis Assembly, whereof I am a member, I will maintain nothing in point of doctrine, but wliat I beheve to be most agreeable to the word of God ; nor in point of discipline, but what may make most for God's glory, and the peace and good of this Church.
J List of the D irilsrES «v'o wid in the Assemhli/ ut Westminster.
Dr. William Twisse of Newbury,
Prolocutor^ Dr. Cornelius Eurges of Waterford, John White of Dorchester, Asses'
sors. Dr. William Gouge of Blackfriars,
liOndon, Robert Harris of Hanwell, B. D. Thomas Gattaker of Rotherhithe, Oliver Bowles of Sutton. B. D. Edward Reynolds of Ejiuuston, Jeremiah Whitaker of Streton, Dr. Anthony Tuckcey of Boston, John Arrowsmith of Lynne, Simeon Ashe of St. Bride's, Philip Nye of Kimboiton, Jeremiah Burroughs of Stepney, John Lightfoot of Ashley, Stanley Gower of Brampton
Bryan, Richard Heyrick of Manchester, Thomas Case of London, Dr. Thomas Temple of Battery, George Gipps of Ayleston, Thomas Carter, Dr. Humphrey Chambers of Cla-
verstoun, Thomas Micklethwait of Cherry- burton, John Guibon of Waltham, Christopher Tesdale of Uphus-
borne, Henry Philps, Qeorge Walker, B. D.
Edmund Calamy, B. D. of Alder-
m anbury. Dr. Lazarus Seaman of London, Joseph Caryl of Lincoln's Inn^ Dr. Henry Wilkinson senior of Wa«
derston, Richard Vines of Calcot, Nicolas Profit of Marlborough, Stephen Marshal, B. D. of Finch.
ingfield, Dr. Joshua Hoyle late of Dublin, Thomas Wilson of Otha:n, Thornas Hodges of Kensington, Thomas Baillie of Mildenhall,
B. D. Francis Taylor of Yalding, Thomas Young of Stownmarket, Thomas Valentine, B. D. of Chal-
font, St. Criles, William Greenhill of Stepney, Edward Pele of Compton, John Green of Pencomb, Andrew Pern of Wilby, Samuel de la Place, John de la March, John Dury, Philip Deline,
Sidrach Simpson of London, John Lano:Iy of Westuderly, Richard Clayton of Showers, Arthur Sallaway of Seavernestock, John Ley of Budworth, Charles Herle of Winwick, prolo- cutor after Pr. Twisse,
Herbert
I 19 3
ler, 3. D. of Ashwel, 5sor aftt-T Mr. White, Cawdrc-y of Great Billing, iry Painter, B. D. of Kxcter, Scudder of Colingbo*n, nas Hill, B. D. of Tichmarshj Reynor, B. D. of Egham, ' r. Thomas Goodwin of London, pr. William Spurstow of Hampden, tjiew Ncwcomb of De nham, Tdmoiid Staunton of Kinj^ston, Conant of Lymmington, B. D. lony Burges of Sutton Cold^ ild, llliaai Rathband, Dr. Francin Cheynel of Oxen, • Dr. Henry Wilkinson younger of
Oxford, Obadiah Sedgwick, B. D. of Cog-
•hal, Edward Corbist of Marlon College,
Oxford, S^muel Gibson of Burley, cmas Coleman of Bliton, odore Backhurst, liam Carter of London, _r Smith,
John Miynard of Mayfield, William Price of Paul's Church in
Covcnt Garden, John Whincop of St. Martins in the
Fields, William Bridge of Yarmouth, Peter Stcrry of London, William lV!c\v, B. D. of KsHngton, Benjamin Pickering of East Hoatly, John .Strickland of St. Edmonds in
Sarum, Humphrey Hardwick, Jasper Hicks of Lawrlck or Lan-
rake, • John Bond,
Henry Hall, B. D. of Norwich, Thomas Ford of London, afterward*
of Exeter, Thomas Thorowgood of Massing*
ham, Peter Clark of Kerby Underbill, William Good, John Foxcroft of Cotham, John Ward,
Richard Byfield of Long-DItton, Francis Woodcock, John Jackson cf Marske.
Commissioners from the General Assemhfi/ of the Church of ^'cvttand.
Az-EXANDER Hendeesoh of Edin- burgh,
'.)ert Doughis of Edinburgh, uel Rutherford of St. An- Irews,
.ert Baillie of Glasgow, _-orge Gillespie of Edint.'jrgh,
AJinitien,
John Earl of Cassilis,
John Lord Mr.itland, afterwardi
Duke of Lauderdale, Sir Archibald Jchnstoun of Wari*
Stoun, RtiUng Elders, Henry Rohrouph, Adoniram Byfield, Joba Waili«, Stribtt.
\
Assembly
A
[ 20 1
Assembly at Edinburgh, August 27. 1G47. Sess. 25.
Act approving the Confession of Faith.
CONFESSION of Faith for the Kirks of. God. in the three kingdoms, being the chiefest part of "that uniformity in religion, which, by the Solemn League and Covenant, we are bound to endeavour : And there beijig accordingly a Confession of Faith agreed upon by the As- sembly of Divines sitting at Westminster, with the assist- ance of Commissioners from the Kirk of Scotland ; ■%vhich Confession was sent from our Gpmmissioners at London to the Commissioners of the Kirk met at Edinburgh in January last, and hath been in this Assembly twice publickly read over, examined, and considered ; copies thereof being also printed, that it might be particularly perused by all the members of this Assembly, unto whom frequent intimation was publickly made, to put in their doubts and objections, if they had any : And the said Confession being, upon due examination thereof, found by the Assembly to be most agreeable to the word of God, and in nothing contrary to the received doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Kirk. And, lastly, It being so necessary, and so much longed for, that the said Confession be, with all possible tliligence and expedition, approved and established in both kingdoms, as a principal part of the intended uniformity in religion, and as a special means for the more effectual sup- pressing of the many dangerous errors and heresies of these times ; the General Assembly doth therefore, after mature deliberation, agree unto, and approve the said Confession, as to the truth of the matter ; (judging it to be most ortho- dox, and grounded upon the word of God ;) and also, as to the point of uniformity, agreeing for our part, that it be a common Confession of Faith for the three kingdoms. The Assembly doth also bless the Lord, and thankfully acknow- ledge his great mercy, in that so excellent a Confession of Faith is prepared, and thus far agreed upon in both king- doms ; which we look upon as a great strengthening of the true reformed religion against the common enemies thereof. But, lest our intention and meaning be in some particulars
misunderstood.
[ 31 ]
ood, it is hereby expressly declared and provided, That tlie not mentioning in this Confession the several sorts of ecclesiastical officers and assemblies, shall be no prejudice !o the truth of Christ in these particulars, to be expressed fully in the Directory of Government. It is further de- clared, That the Assembly understandeth some parts of the second article of the thirty-one chapter only of kirks not settled, or constituted in point of government : And that although, in such kirks, a synod of Ministers, and other lit persons,* may be called by the jMagistrate'*s authority and KJ^ninat.ion, without any other call, to consult and advise ^H^h about matters of religion; and although, likewise, the ^H^nisters of Christ, without delegation from their churches, ^fly of themselves, and ])y virtue of their office, meet to- gether synodically in such kirks not yet constituted, yet neither of these ought to be done in kirks constituted and settled; it being always free to the Magistrate to advise with synods of ministers and ruling elders, meeting upon delegation from their churches, either ordinarily, or, being indicted by his authority, occasionally, and pro re nata ; it being also free to assemble together synodically, as well pro re nata as at the ordinary times, upon delegation from the churches, by the intrinsical power received from Christ, often as it is necessary for tiie good of the Church so to >emble, in case the Magistrate, to the detriment of the iiurch, withhold or deny his consent; the necessity of occasional assemblies being first remonstrate unto him by humble supplication.
A. KER.
Charles
[ 22 1
Charles I. Pari. 2. Sess. 2. Act 16.
^CT anent the Calecliistns, Confession of Faith f and ratif cation thereof.
At Edinburgh, February 7. 164-9.
•TTIE Estates of Parliament, now presently convened in •*- this second Session of the second triennial Parliament, by virtue of an Act of the Committee of Estates, who had power and authority from the last Parliament for conve- ning the Parliament, having seriously considered the Cate- chisms, VIZ. the Larger and Shorter ones, with the Con- fession of Paith, with three Acts of Approbation thereof by the Commissioners of the General Assembly, presented unto them by the Commissioners of the said General Assem- bly; do ratify and approve the said Catechisms, Confession of Faith, and Acts of Approbation of the same, produced as it is ; and ordains them to be recorded, published, and practised.
THE
THE
ONFESSION OF FAITH,
AGREED UPON BY
THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER,
V.ITU THE ASSISTANCE OP
COMMISSIONERS
FROM THE
CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,
A Part of the Covenanted Uniformity in Religion betwixt the Churches of Christ in the Kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland.
Approved by the General Assembly 1 G47, and ratified and establlbhed by Acts of Parliament 16 19 and 1G90, as the publick and avowed
CONFESSION Of THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,
WITH THE
PROOFS FROM THE SCRIPTURE.
THE CONTENTS.
cjiap.