An ordinance of the lords and commons affembled in parliament, for the calling of an affembly of learned and godly divines, and others, to be confulted with by the parliament, for the fettling of the government and liturgy of the church of England; and for vindicating and clearing of the doctrine of the faid church from falfe afperfions and interpretations. June 12. 1643.

7Hereas, amongst the infinite bleffings 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 the liturgy, difcipline, and government of the church, which do neceffarily require a further and more perfect reformation, than as yet hath been attained: And whereas it hath been declared and refolved by the lords and com mons affembled in parliament, that the prefent church-government by archbishops, their chancellors, commiffars, deans, deans and chapters, archdeacons, and other ecclefiaftical officers, depending upon the hierarchy, is evil and juftly offenfive and burdenfome to the kingdom, a great impediment to reformation and growth of religion, and very prejudicial to the fiate and government of this kingdom; and therefore they are refolved, that the fame fhall be taken away, and that fuch. a government shall be fettled in the church, as may be moft agreeable to God's holy word, and moft apt to procure and preferve the peace of the church at home, and nearer agreement with the church of Scotland, and other reformed churches abroad: And for the better effecting hereof, and for the vindicating and clearing of the doctrine of the church of England from all falfe calumnies and, afperfions; it is thought fit and neceffary to call an affembly of learned godly and judicious divines, who, together with fome members of both the houfes of parliament, are to confult and advife of fuch matters and things, touching the premiffes, as fhall be propofed unto them by both or either of the houfes of parliament, and to give their advice and counfel therein to both, or either of the faid houfes, when, and as often as they (hall be thereunto required. Be it therefore or. dained, by the lords and commons in this prefent parliament affembled, that all and every the perfons hereafter in this prefent ordinance named, that is to fay,

And fuch other perfon or perfons as fhall be nominated and appointed by both houfes of parliament, or fo many of them as fhall not be letted by ficknefs, or other neceffary impediment, fhall meet and affemble, and are hereby required and injoined upon fummons

figned by the clerks of both houfes of parliament, left at their refpec'tive dwellings, to meet and affemble themfelves at Westminster, in the chapel called king Henry the VIIth's chapel, on the first day of July, in the year of our Lord, one thoufand fix hundred and forty three; and after the first meeting, being at leaft the number of forty, fhall from time to time fit, and be removed from place to place, and alfo, that the faid affembly fhall be diffolved in fuch manner, as by both houses of parliament fhall be directed: and the faid perfons, or fo many of them as fhall be fo affembled, or fit, fhall have power and authority, and are hereby likewife injoined from time to time, during this present parliament, or until further order be taken by both the faid houfes, to confer and treat among themselves, of fuch matters and things, touching and concerning the liturgy, difcipline and government of the church of England, for the vindicating and clearing of the doctrine of the fame, from all falfe afperfions and mifconftructions, as thall be propofed unto them by both or either of the faid houfes of parliament, and no other; and deliver their opinion, advices of, or touching the matters aforefaid, as fhall be moft agreeable to the word of God, to both or either of the houses, from time to time, in fuch manner and fort, as by both or either of the faid houfes of parliament, fhall be required; and the fame not to divulge by printing, writing, or otherwife, without the confent of both, or either houfe of parlia ment. And be it further ordained, by the authority aforefaid, that William Twiffe doctor in divinity thall fit in the chair, as prolocutor of the faid affembly; and if he happen to die, or be letted by fickness, or other neceffary impediment, then fuch other perfon to be appointed in his place, as fhall be agreed on by the faid houfes of parliament: And in cafe any difference in opinions fhall happen amongst the faid perfons fo affembled, touching any the matters that fhall be propofed to them as forefaid, that then they fhall reprefent the fame, together with the reasons thereof, to both or either the faid houfes refpectively, to the end fuch further direction may be given therein, as fhall be requifite to that behalf. And be it further ordained by the authority forefaid, That for the charges and expences of the faid divines, and every one of them, in attending the faid fervice, there fhall be allowed every one of them that fhall fo attend, during the time of their faid attendance, and for ten days before, and ten days after, the fum of four fhillings for every day, at the charges of the commonwealth, at fuch time, and in fuch manner, as by both houfes of parliament fhall be appointed. And be it further ordained, That all, and every the faid divines, fo, as aforefaid, required and injoined to meet and affemble, fhall be freed and acquitted of, and from every offence, forfeiture, penalty, lofs or damage, which shall or may enfue or grow by reafon of any non-refidence, or abfence of them, or any of them, from his, or their, or any of their church, churches or cures, for or in refpect of their faid attendance upon the faid fervice; any

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law or ftatute of non-refidence, or other law or ftatute injoining their attendance upon their respective miniftries, or chargés, to the contrary thereof, notwithstanding. And if any of the perfons above-named fhall happen to die before the faid affembly fhall be diffolved by order of both houfes of parliament, then fuch other perfon or perfons, fhall be nominated and placed in the room and stead of such perfon or perfons fo dying, as by both the faid houfes fhall be thought fit, and a greed upon; and every fuch petfon fuch perfon or perfons, fo to be named, fhall have the like power and authority, freedom and acquittal to all intents and purposes, and alfo all fuch wages and allowances for the faid fervice, during the time of his or their attendance, as to any other of the faid perfons in this ordinance, is by this ordinance limited and ap pointed. Provided always, that this ordinance, or any thing therein contained, fhall not give unto the perfons aforefaid, or any of them, nor fhall they in this affembly affume to exercife, any jurifdiction, power or authority ecclefiaftical whatfoever, or any other power than is herein particularly expreffed.

Affembly at EDINBURGH, August 19, 1643. Seff. 14.

Commiffion of the General Affembly to fome Minifters and Ruling Elders, for repairing to the Kingdom of England.

HE General Affembly of the Church of Scotland finding it neceffary to fend fome Godly and Learned of this Kirk to the Kingdom of England, to the Effect under-written; Therefore gives full Power and Commiffion to Mr. Alexander Henderfon, Mr. Robert Douglas, Mr Samuel Rutherfoord, Mr. Robert Bailie, and Mr. George Gillespie, Minifters, John Earl of Caffils, John Lord Maitland, and Sir Archibald Johnfton of Wariftoun, Elders, or any Three of them, whereof two fhall be Ministers, to repair to the Kingdom of England, and there to deliver the Declaration fent unto the Parliament of England, and the Letter fent unto the Affembly of Divines now fitting in that Kingdom; and to propone, confult, treat and conclude with that. Afembly or any Commiffioners deputed by them, or any Committees or Commiffioners deputed by the Houfes of Parliament, in all Matters which may further the Union of this Ifland in one Form of Kirk-government, one Confeffion of Faith, one Catechifm, one Directory for the Worship of God, according to the Inftructions which they have received from the Affembly, or fhall receive from Time to Time hereafter from the Commiffioners of the Affembly, deputed for that Effect: With Power alfo to them to convey to his Majefty the humble Acfwer fent from this Affembly to his Majefty's Letter, by fuch oc cafion as they fhall think convenient; and fuch like, to deliver the Affembly's Anfwer to the Letter fent from fome well-affected Brethren of the Ministry there; and generally authorizes them to do all Things, which may further the

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fo much defired Uaion, and nearest Conjunction of the Two Churches of Scotland and England, conform to their Inftructions aforefaid.

Many of the Perfons who were called by the forfaid Ordinance of the Lords and Commons, (in that broken State of the Church) to attend the Affembly, appeared not; whereupon the whole Work lay on the Hands of the Perfons hereafter mentioned.

The Promise and Vow taken by every Member admitted to fit in the Affembly.

A. B. do ferioufly Promife and Vow, in the Prefence of Almighty GOD, That in this Affembly, whereof I am a Member, I will maintain nothing in Point of Doctrine, but what I believe to be moft agreeable to the Word of GOD; nor in Point of Difcipline, but what may make moft for God's Glory, and the Peace and Good of this Church.

A LIST of the DIVINES who met in the Affembly at Weftminster..

Commiffioners from the General Affembly of the Church of

SCOTLAND.

Lexander Henderfon of Edinburgh John Earl of Caffils

Robert Douglas of Edinburgh

Samuel Rutherfoord of St. Andrews

Robert Baily of Glasgow

Henry Robrough

Adoniram Byfield