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-Government, one Confession of Faith, one Catechism, one Directory for the worship of God, according to the instructions which they have received from the Assembly, or shall receive from time to time hereafter 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 Assembly 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-affected 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.

Many of the persons who were called by the foresaid Ordi

nance of the Lords and Commons (in that broken state of the Church) to attend the Assembly appeared not ;, whereupon the whole work lay on the hands of the persons hereafter mentioned.

The Promise and Vow taken by every Member admitted to

sit in the Assembly.

I 4

Almighty God, That in this Assembly, whereof I am a member, I will maintain nothing in point of doctrine, but what I believe 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,

• A LIST OF THE DIVINES,

Who met in the Assembly at Westminster. Dr. William Twisse of Newbury, Robert Harris of Hanwell, B. D. Prolocutor.

Thomas Gattaker of Rotherhithe, Dr. Cornelius Burges of Waterford, Oliver Bowles of Sutton, B. D. John White of Dorchester, Assessors. Edward Reynolds of Bramston, Dr. William Gouge of Blackfriars, Jeremiah Whitaker of Streton, London,

Dr. Anthony Tuckney of Boston

John Arrowsmith of Lynne,

Herbert Palmer, B. D. of Ashwel, Simeon A she of St. Bride's,

àssessor after Mr. White, Philip Nye of Kimbolton,

Daniel Cawdrey of Great Billing, Jeremiah Burroughs of Stepney, Henry Painter, B. D. of Exeter, John Lightfoot of Ashley,

Henry Scudder of Colingborn, Stanley Gower of Brampton Bryan, Thomas Hill, B. D. of Tichmarsh, Richard Heyrick of Manchester, William Reynor, B. D. of Egham, Thomas Case of London,

Dr. Thomas Goodwin of London, Dr. Thomas Temple of Battery, Dr. William Spürstow of Hampden, George Gipps of Ayleston,

Matthew Newcomb of Denham, Thomas Carter,

Dr. Edmond Staunton of Kingston, Dr. Humphrey Chambers of Claver. John Conant of Lymington, B. D. stoun,

Anthony Burges of Sutton Coldfield, Thomas Micklethwait of Cherrybur. William Rathband, ton,

Dr. Francis Cheynel of Oxen, John Guibon of Waltham,

Dr. Henry Wilkinson younger of OxChristopher Tesdale of Uphusborne, ford, Henry Philps,

Obadiah Sedgwick, B. D. of CogGeorge Walker, B. D.

shal, Edmund Calamy, B. D. of Alder. Edward Corbist of Marton College, manbury,

Oxford,
Dr. Lazarus Seaman of London, Samuel Gibson of Burley,
Joseph Caryl of Lincoln's Inn, Thomas Coleman of Bliton,
Dr. Henry Wilkinson senior of Wa- Theodore Backhurst,
derston,

William Carter of London,
Richard Vines of Calcot,

Peter Smith, Nicolas Profit of Marlborough, John Maynard of Mayfield, Stephen Marshal, B. D. of Finching- William Price of Paul's Church in field,

Covent Garden,
Dr. Joshua Hoyle late of Dublin, John Whincop of St. Martins in the
Thomas Wilson of Otham,

Fields,
Thomas Hodges of Kensington, William Bridge of Yarmouth,
Thomas Baillie of Mildenhall, B. D. Peter Sterry of London,
Francis Taylor' of Yalding,

William Mew, B. D. of Eslington, Thomas Young of Stownmarket, Benjamin Pickering of East Hoatly, Thomas Valentine, B. D. of Chal. John Strickland of St. Edmons in Sa. font, St. Giles,

rum, William Greenhill of Stepney, Humphrey Hardwick, Edward Pele of Compton,

Jasper Hicks of Lawrick or Lanrake, john Green of Pencomb,

John Bond, Andrew Pern of Wilby,

Henry Hall, B. D. of Norwich, Samuel de la Place,

Thomas Ford of London, afterwards John de la March,

of Exeter, John Dury,

Thomas Thorowgood of MassingPhilip Deline,

ham, Sidrach Simpson of London,

Peter Clark of Kerby Underhill, John Langley of Westuderly,

William Good,
Richard Clayton of Showers,

John Foxcroft of Cotham,
Arthur Sallaway of Seavernęstock, John Ward,
John Ley of Budworth,

Richard By field of Long-Ditton, Charles Herle of Winwick, prolocu. Francis Woodcock, tor after Dr. Twisse,

Jolm Jackson of Marska.

Commissioners from the General Assembly of the Church of

Scotland.

ALEXANDER HENDERSON of Edin- John Lord Maitland, afterwards Duke burgh,

of Lauderdale, Robert Douglas of Edinburgh, Sir Archibald Johnstoun of Wari. Samuel Rutherford of St. Andrews, stoun, Ruling Elders. Robert Baillie of Glasgow,

Henry Robrough, George Gillespie of Edinburgh, Adoniram Byfield,

Ministers. John Wallis, Scribes. John Earl of Cassilis,

A

Assembly at EDINBURCH, August 27, 1647. Sess. 23.

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 being accordingly a Confession of Faith agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster, with the assistance of Commissioners from the Kirk of Scotland; which Confession was sent from our Commissioners 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 diligence 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 suppressing 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 orthodox, and grounded upon the word of God ;) and also, as to the point of uniformity, agreeing for our part, that it a common Confession of Faith for the three kingdoms. I Assembly doth also bless the Lord, and thankfully ackno ledge his great mercy, in that so excellent a Confession Faith is prepared, and thus far agreed upon in both kin doms; which we look upon as a great strengthening of t true reformed religion against the common enemies there, But, lest our intention and meaning be in some particula misunderstood, it is hereby expressly declared and provide That the not mentioning in this Confession the several sor of ecclesiastical officers and assemblies shall be no prejudi to the truth of Christ in these particulars, to be expresse fully in the Directory of Government. It is further d clared, That the Assembly understandeth some parts of th second article of the thirty-one chapter only of kirks na settled, or constituted in point of government : And th: although, in such kirks, a synod of Ministers, and other f persons, may be called by the Magistrate's authority an nomination, without any other call, to consult and advis with about matters of religion; and although, likewise, th Ministers of Christ, without delegation from their churches may of themselves, and by virtue of their office, meet to gether synodically in such kirks not yet constituted, ye neither of these ought to be done in kirks constituted and settled; it being always free to the Magistrate to advise with synods of ininisters and ruling elders, meeting upor delegation from their churches, either ordinarily, or, being indicted by his authority, occasionally, and pro re nata , it being also free to assemble together snynodically, as well pro re nata as at the ordinary times, upon delegation from the churches, by the intrinsical power received from Christ, as often as it is necessary for the good of the Church so to assemble, in case the magistrate, to the detriment of the Church, withhold or deny his consent; the necessity of occasional assemblies being first remonstrate unto him by humble supplication.

A. KER.

CHARLES I. Parl. 2. Sess. 2. Act 16.

Act anent the Catechisms, Confession of Faith, and ratification thereof.

At EDINBURGH, February 7, 1649.

T
THE 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 Catechisms, viz. the Larger and Shorter ones, with the Con- i fession of Faith, with three Acts of Approbation thereof by the Commissioners of the General Assembly, presented unto them by the Commissioners of the said General Assembly; 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.

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